bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three Dimensional Printing of Multiscale Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Containing Graphene or Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Residori Sara , Dul Sithiprumnea , Pegoretti Alessandro , Fambri Luca , Pugno Nicola M.
Published: June 2022

Three-dimensional printing offers a promising, challenging opportunity to manufacture component parts with ad hoc designed composite materials. In this study, the novelty of the research is the production of multiscale composites by means of a solvent-free process based on melt compounding of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS), with various amounts of microfillers, i.e., milled (M) carbon fibers (CFs) and nanofillers, i.e., carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The compounded materials were processed into compression molded sheets and into extruded filaments. The latter were then used to print fused filament fabrication (FFF) specimens. The multiscale addition of the microfillers inside the ABS matrix caused a notable increase in rigidity and a slight increase in strength. However, it also brought about a significant reduction of the strain at break. Importantly, GNPs addition had a good impact on the rigidity of the materials, whereas CNTs favored/improved the composites’ electrical conductivity. In particular, the addition of this nanofiller was very effective in improving the electrical conductivity compared to pure ABS and micro composites, even with the lowest CNT content. However, the filament extrusion and FFF process led to the creation of voids within the structure, causing a significant loss of mechanical properties and a slight improvement of the electrical conductivity of the printed multiscale composites. Selective parameters have been presented for the comparison and selection of compositions of multiscale nanocomposites.
Unlocking the Carbyne-Enriched Nanocoating Sensitivity to Volatile Organic Vapors with Plasma-Driven Deposition onto Bulk Micromachined Silicon Membranes
Authors: Aleksandrova Mariya , Kolev Georgi , Dobrikov Georgi , Brigadin Andrey , Lukin Alexander
Published: June 2022

Due to the unique combination of physicochemical and structural properties of carbyne-enriched nanocoatings, they can be used for the development of high-end electronic devices. We propose using it for the development of sensor platforms based on silicon bulk micromachined membranes that serve as a part of microcapacitors with flexible electrodes, with various sizes and topologies. The carbyne-enriched nanocoating was grown using the ion-assisted pulse-plasma deposition method in the form of 2D-ordered linear-chain carbon with interchain spacing in the range of approximately 4.8–5.03 Å. The main characteristics of the fabricated sensors, such as dynamic range, sensitivity, linearity, response, and recovery times, were measured as a function of the ethanol concentration and compared for the different sizes of the micromembranes and for the different surface states, such as patterned and non-patterned. The obtained results are the first step in the further optimization of these sensor platforms to reach more precise detection of volatile organic compounds for the needs of the healthcare, air monitoring, and other relevant fields of human health.
Construction of Double-Shelled Hollow Ag2S@Polydopamine Nanocomposites for Fluorescence-Guided, Dual Stimuli-Responsive Drug Delivery and Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Gao Minjie , Han Zehua , Zhang Xu , Zou Xueyan , Peng Lichao , Zhao Yanbao , Sun Lei
Published: June 2022

The design and preparation of multifunctional drug carriers for combined photothermal–chemotherapy of cancer have attracted extensive attention over the past few decades. However, the development of simple-structured stimuli-responsive theranostic agents as both photothermal agents and chemotherapeutic agents remains a big challenge. Herein, a novel double-shelled nanocarrier composed of hollow Ag2S (HAg2S) nanospheres and a mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) exterior shell was fabricated through a facile process. Notably, HAg2S possesses both fluorescence and photothermal properties. MPDA acts as a drug carrier and photothermal agent. Meanwhile, the cavity structure between HAg2S and MPDA provides more space for drug loading. The nanocarrier presents a high drug loading rate of 23.4%. It exhibits an apparent pH-responsive DOX release property due to the acidic sensitivity of PDA. In addition, the release of DOX is promoted under NIR irradiation, which is attributed to the heating action generated by the photothermal effect of HAg2S and MPDA. The cytotoxicity test shows that the nanocarriers possess good biocompatibility. Compared with single photothermal therapy or chemotherapy, the combined treatment represents a synergistic effect with higher therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the nanocarriers exhibit excellent fluorescence imaging capability and can target HepG2 cells. These simple-structured smart nanocarriers have a great potential for fluorescence-mediated combination cancer therapy.
In Vitro and In Vivo Cytotoxicity of Boron Nitride Nanotubes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kakarla Akesh Babu , Kong Ing
Published: June 2022

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are an exciting class of nanomaterials due to their unique chemical and physical characteristics. In recent decades, BNNTs have gained huge attention in research and development for various applications, including as nano-fillers for composites, semiconductor devices, hydrogen storage, and as an emerging material in biomedical and tissue engineering applications. However, the toxicity of BNNTs is not clear, and the biocompatibility is not proven yet. In this review, the role of BNNTs in biocompatibility studies is assessed in terms of their characteristics: cell viability, proliferation, therapeutic outcomes, and genotoxicity, which are vital elements for their prospective use in biomedical applications. A systematic review was conducted utilising the databases Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) (2008–2022). Additional findings were discovered manually by snowballing the reference lists of appropriate reviews. Only English-language articles were included. Finally, the significant analysis and discussion of the chosen articles are presented.
Simultaneous Mass Spectrometry-Based Apolipoprotein Profiling and Apolipoprotein E Phenotyping in Patients with ASCVD and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Begcevic Brkovic Ilijana , Zöhrer Benedikt , Scholz Markus , Reinicke Madlen , Dittrich Julia , Kamalsada Surab , Baber Ronny , Beutner Frank , Teren Andrej , Engel Christoph , Wirkner Kerstin , Thiele Holger , Löffler Markus , Riedel-Heller Steffi G. , Ceglarek Uta
Published: June 2022

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) occurs on the majority of plasma lipoproteins and plays a major role in the lipid metabolism in the periphery and in the central nervous system. ApoE is a polymorphic protein with three common isoforms, apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4, derived from respective alleles ε2, ε3 and ε4. The aim of this study was to develop a sample pretreatment protocol combined with rapid mass spectrometry (MS)-based assay for simultaneous apolipoprotein profiling and apoE phenotype identification. This assay was validated in 481 samples from patients with stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and applied to study association with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the LIFE Adult study, including overall 690 study subjects. Simultaneous quantification of 8–12 major apolipoproteins including apoA-I, apoB-100 and apoE could be performed within 6.5 min. Phenotyping determined with the developed MS assay had good agreement with the genotyping by real-time fluorescence PCR (97.5%). ApoE2 isoform was associated with the highest total apoE concentration compared to apoE3 and apoE4 (p < 0.001). In the subgroup of diabetic atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients, apoE2 isoform was related to higher apoC-I levels (apoE2 vs. apoE3, p < 0.05), while in the subgroup of ASCVD patients under statin therapy apoE2 was related to lower apoB-100 levels (apoE2 vs. apoE3/apoE4, p < 0.05). A significant difference in apoE concentration observed between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects and controls was confirmed for each apoE phenotype. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the successful implementation of an MS-based apoE phenotyping assay, which can be used to assess phenotype effects on plasma lipid and apolipoprotein levels.
Metabolic Impact of MKP-2 Upregulation in Obesity Promotes Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Fernando Savanie , Sellers Jacob , Smith Shauri , Bhogoju Sarayu , Junkins Sadie , Welch Morgan , Willoughby Orion , Ghimire Nabin , Secunda Cassandra , Barmanova Marina , Kumer Sean C. , Min Kisuk , Lawan Ahmed
Published: June 2022

The mechanisms connecting obesity with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases remain incompletely understood. The function of MAPK phosphatase-2 (MKP-2), a type 1 dual-specific phosphatase (DUSP) in whole-body metabolism, and how this contributes to the development of diet-induced obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and insulin resistance is largely unknown. We investigated the physiological contribution of MKP-2 in whole-body metabolism and whether MKP-2 is altered in obesity and human fatty liver disease using MKP-2 knockout mice models and human liver tissue derived from fatty liver disease patients. We demonstrate that, for the first time, MKP-2 expression was upregulated in liver tissue in humans with obesity and fatty liver disease and in insulin-responsive tissues in mice with obesity. MKP-2-deficient mice have enhanced p38 MAPK, JNK, and ERK activities in insulin-responsive tissues compared with wild-type mice. MKP-2 deficiency in mice protects against diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis and was accompanied by improved glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Mkp-2−/− mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity owing to reduced food intake and associated lower respiratory exchange ratio. This was associated with enhanced circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) levels in Mkp-2−/− mice. PTEN, a negative regulator of Akt, was downregulated in livers of Mkp-2−/− mice, resulting in enhanced Akt activity consistent with increased insulin sensitivity. These studies identify a novel role for MKP-2 in the regulation of systemic metabolism and pathophysiology of obesity-induced insulin resistance and fatty liver disease.
The Role of a High-Fat, High-Fructose Diet on Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Prepubertal Mice
Authors: Pieczyńska Joanna Maria , Pruszyńska-Oszmałek Ewa , Kołodziejski Paweł Antoni , Łukomska Anna , Bajerska Joanna
Published: June 2022

This study aims to investigate the effects of a high-fat, high-fructose (HF/HFr) diet on metabolic/endocrine dysregulations associated with letrozole (LET)-induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in prepubertal female mice. Thirty-two prepubertal C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups of eight and implanted with LET or a placebo, with simultaneous administration of an HF/HFr/standard diet for five weeks. After sacrifice, the liver and blood were collected for selected biochemical analyses. The ovaries were taken for histopathological examination. The LET+HF/HFr group gained significantly more weight than the LET-treated mice. Both the LET+HF/HFr and the placebo-treated mice on the HF/HFr diet developed polycystic ovaries. Moreover the LET+HF/HFr group had significantly elevated testosterone levels, worsened lipid profile and indices of insulin sensitivity. In turn, the HF/HFr diet alone led to similar changes in the LET-treated group, except for the indices of insulin sensitivity. Hepatic steatosis also occurred in both HF/HFr groups. The LET-treated group did not develop endocrine or metabolic abnormalities, but polycystic ovaries were seen. Since the HF/HFr diet can cause substantial metabolic and reproductive dysregulation in both LET-treated and placebo mice, food items rich in simple sugar—particularly fructose—and saturated fat, which have the potential to lead to PCOS progression, should be eliminated from the diet of young females.
Hesperidin Bioavailability Is Increased by the Presence of 2S-Diastereoisomer and Micronization—A Randomized, Crossover and Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Crescenti Anna , Caimari Antoni , Alcaide-Hidalgo Juan María , Mariné-Casadó Roger , Valls Rosa M. , Companys Judit , Salamanca Patricia , Calderón-Pérez Lorena , Pla-Pagà Laura , Pedret Anna , Delpino-Rius Antoni , Herrero Pol , Samarra Iris , Arola Lluís , Solà Rosa , Del Bas Josep M.
Published: June 2022

Hesperidin is a flavanone abundantly found in citrus fruits for which health beneficial effects have been reported. However, hesperidin shows a low bioavailability among individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the micronization process and 2R- and 2S-hesperidin diastereoisomers ratio on hesperidin bioavailability. In a first phase, thirty healthy individuals consumed 500 mL of orange juice with 345 mg of hesperidin, and the levels of hesperidin metabolites excreted in urine were determined. In the second phase, fifteen individuals with intermediate hesperidin metabolite levels excreted in urine were randomized in a crossover, postprandial and double-blind intervention study. Participants consumed 500 mg of the hesperidin-supplemented Hesperidin epimeric mixture (HEM), the micronized Hesperidin epimeric mixture (MHEM) and micronized 2S-Hesperidin (M2SH) in each study visit with 1 week of washout. Hesperidin metabolites and catabolites were determined in blood and urine obtained at different timepoints over a 24 h period. The bioavailability—relative urinary hesperidin excretion (% of hesperidin ingested)—of M2SH (70 ± 14%) formed mainly by 2S-diastereoisomer was significantly higher than the bioavailability of the MHEM (55 ± 15%) and HEM (43 ± 8.0%), which consisted of a mixture of both hesperidin diastereoisomers. Relative urinary excretion of hesperidin metabolites for MHEM (9.2 ± 1.6%) was significantly higher compared to the HEM (5.2 ± 0.81%) and M2SH (3.6 ± 1.0%). In conclusion, the bioavailability of 2S-hesperidin extract was higher compared to the standard mixture of 2S-/2R-hesperidin extract due to a greater formation of hesperidin catabolites. Furthermore, the micronization process increased hesperidin bioavailability.
Investigation of the Associations between Diet Quality and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Swedish Adolescents
Authors: Regan Callum , Walltott Hedda , Kjellenberg Karin , Nyberg Gisela , Helgadóttir Björg
Published: June 2022

Most adolescents do not consume a high-quality diet, while self-reported mental health problems within this group are increasing. This study aimed to investigate the association between diet quality and health-related quality of life, and to explore the differences in diet quality and health-related quality of life between gender and parental education status. In this cross-sectional study, a detailed web-based recall method was implemented to determine dietary intake, which was analysed using the newly developed Swedish Healthy Eating Index for Adolescents 2015 (SHEIA15) and the Riksmaten Adolescents Diet Diversity Score (RADDS), to determine diet quality. The KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire was used to measure health-related quality of life, and parental education was self-reported through questionnaires. Parental education was divided into two groups: ≤12 years or >12 years. The study included 1139 adolescents from grade 7 (13–14 years old), 51% were girls. The results showed that girls had higher scores for healthy eating and diet diversity but lower scores for health-related quality of life. A positive association was found between diet diversity and health-related quality of life (Adj R2 = 0.072, p = 0.001), between vegetable/fruit consumption and health-related quality of life (Adj R2 = 0.071, p = 0.002), and between healthy eating and diet diversity (Adj R2 = 0.214, p < 0.001). No association was found between healthy eating and health-related quality of life for all participants. The mean scores for healthy eating and diet diversity were significantly higher in the higher education parental group. In conclusion, higher diet diversity and increased fruit and vegetable consumption could be a strategy to improve health-related quality of life among adolescents. There is a need to promote better diet quality, especially in households of low parental education. In addition, there is a further need to investigate the potential benefits of improved diet quality on mental health and overall well-being.
Enterococci—Involvement in Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Potential in Cancer Treatment: A Mini-Review
Authors: Grenda Anna , Grenda Tomasz , Domaradzki Piotr , Kwiatek Krzysztof
Published: June 2022

Enterococcus spp. are Gram-positive, heterogeneous lactic acid bacteria inhabiting various environments. Several species of Enterococci are considered to be able to stimulate the immune system and play an important role in intestinal homeostasis. Some Enterococci can be used as probiotics. Some strains of E. faecium are components of pharmaceutical products used to treat diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, it has been proved that they are responsible for food contamination, and are sometimes undesirable from the point of view of food technology. Additionally, the virulence and multi-drug resistance of Enterococci potentially pose a risk of an epidemic, especially in hospital environments. Moreover, there are indications of their negative role in colon tumorigenesis; however, some nterococci are proved to support immunotherapy in cancer treatment. In general, it can be concluded that this group of microorganisms, despite its nature, has properties that can be used to support cancer treatment—both aggressive chemotherapy and cutting-edge therapy targeting immune checkpoints (IC).
A Prospective Study of Medication Surveillance of a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Nawaz Hafiz Awais , Khan Tahir Mehmood , Adil Qendeel , Goh Khang Wen , Ming Long Chiau , Blebil Ali Qais , Lee Kah Seng , Dhaliwal Jagjit Singh
Published: June 2022

Purpose: Several studies have shown that polypharmacy is the main cause of drug interactions, and the prevalence and the level of the severity varied with the duration of stay in the hospital, sex and race of the patients. The aims of this investigation were to identify the drug-drug interactions in hospitalized pediatric patients associated with polypharmacy, and to categorize the drug interactions in pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interactions according to their level of severity. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective analytical study was performed at a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan for the duration of 4 months, which included prescription orders for 300 patients. Data were collected from patient medical files about previous and current medication history. Drug interactions were analyzed using interaction checker on Medscape and categorized according to the severity levels. Results: Out of 300 patients, the occurrence of drug interactions was found in 157 (52.3%) patients, while in 143 (47.7%), no interaction was found. Among these interactions, 50.7% were pharmacodynamic interactions, and 49.30% were pharmacokinetic interactions. Eighty-one percent of prescription orders with drug interactions contained more than three drugs, and 11.9% of interactions were severe. The majority of interactions were of amikacin-vancomycin, piroxicam-captopril and captopril-ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: Most of the interactions were moderate among patients with multiple drug prescriptions. The drug interactions can be minimized by providing special patient monitoring and adequate management with prior knowledge of these drug interaction.
Multifunctional Gel Films of Marine Polysaccharides Cross-Linked with Poly-Metal Ions for Wound Healing
Authors: Zhao Di , Shi Chao , Guo Tingting , Zhang Kun , Cui Shenghao , Chen Liqi , Yang Faming , Chen Jingdi
Published: June 2022

The development of an efficient and convenient material to improve skin tissue regeneration is a major challenge in healthcare. Inspired by the theory of moist wound healing, portable chitooligosaccharide (COS)/sodium alginate (SA) dual-net gel films containing multiple metal ions were prepared by a casting and in-situ spray method, which can be used to significantly promote wound healing without the use of therapeutic drugs. A variety of divalent cations was introduced in this experiment to improve the advantages of each metal ion by forming metal ion chelates with COS. Moreover, the physicochemical properties and antioxidant properties of nIon2+-COS/SA gel films were systematically characterized and evaluated by in vitro experiments. The gel films showed good antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, the gel films showed good cytocompatibility in cellular experiments, and the gel films with Zn2+ and Sr2+ addition significantly accelerated wound healing in whole skin defect model experiments. Therefore, this nIon2+-COS/SA gel film is an ideal candidate material for wound dressing.
Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacometabolomic Approach in Early-Phase Clinical Trials: A Way Forward for Targeted Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Tee Khim Boon , Ibrahim Luqman , Hashim Najihah Mohd , Saiman Mohd Zuwairi , Zakaria Zaril Harza , Huri Hasniza Zaman
Published: June 2022

Pharmacometabolomics in early phase clinical trials demonstrate the metabolic profiles of a subject responding to a drug treatment in a controlled environment, whereas pharmacokinetics measure the drug plasma concentration in human circulation. Application of the personalized peak plasma concentration from pharmacokinetics in pharmacometabolomic studies provides insights into drugs’ pharmacological effects through dysregulation of metabolic pathways or pharmacodynamic biomarkers. This proof-of-concept study integrates personalized pharmacokinetic and pharmacometabolomic approaches to determine the predictive pharmacodynamic response of human metabolic pathways for type 2 diabetes. In this study, we use metformin as a model drug. Metformin is a first-line glucose-lowering agent; however, the variation of metabolites that potentially affect the efficacy and safety profile remains inconclusive. Seventeen healthy subjects were given a single dose of 1000 mg of metformin under fasting conditions. Fifteen sampling time-points were collected and analyzed using the validated bioanalytical LCMS method for metformin quantification in plasma. The individualized peak-concentration plasma samples determined from the pharmacokinetic parameters calculated using Matlab Simbiology were further analyzed with pre-dose plasma samples using an untargeted metabolomic approach. Pharmacometabolomic data processing and statistical analysis were performed using MetaboAnalyst with a functional meta-analysis peaks-to-pathway approach to identify dysregulated human metabolic pathways. The validated metformin calibration ranged from 80.4 to 2010 ng/mL for accuracy, precision, stability and others. The median and IQR for Cmax was 1248 (849–1391) ng/mL; AUC0-infinity was 9510 (7314–10,411) ng·h/mL, and Tmax was 2.5 (2.5–3.0) h. The individualized Cmax pharmacokinetics guided the untargeted pharmacometabolomics of metformin, suggesting a series of provisional predictive human metabolic pathways, which include arginine and proline metabolism, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, glutathione metabolism and others that are associated with metformin’s pharmacological effects of increasing insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. Integration of pharmacokinetic and pharmacometabolomic approaches in early-phase clinical trials may pave a pathway for developing targeted therapy. This could further reduce variability in a controlled trial environment and aid in identifying surrogates for drug response pathways, increasing the prediction of responders for dose selection in phase II clinical trials.
A Hobbesian Argument for World Government
Authors: Sætra Henrik Skaug
Published: June 2022

The legitimacy of government is often linked to its ability to maintain order and secure peace. Thomas Hobbes’ political philosophy provides a clear description of why government is necessary, as human nature and the structures emerging out of human social interaction are such that order and peace will not naturally emerge to a sufficient degree. Hobbes’ general argument is often accepted at the national level, but in this article, I explore why a Hobbesian argument for the international level—an argument for world government—is deducible from his philosophy. Hobbes builds his philosophy on his conception of human nature and argues that individuals’ interests and preferences should be the determinant for evaluating the value of a political entity. By emphasising these aspects of Hobbes’ theory, I argue that several contemporary phenomena suggest that a world government could be preferable to the states system. The cases used are the outbreak of war in Europe in 2022 and the continuing and accelerating environmental crisis. Through this examination, the continued relevance of Hobbes’ political philosophy is demonstrated, and according to Hobbes’ own logic, those who accept the argument should also seek to implement such a solution.
Calibration of the Soleil–Babinet Compensator Based on the Vectorial Optical Field
Authors: Ma Yayun , Yang Fen , Zhao Dong’e
Published: June 2022

The Soleil–Babinet compensator (SBC) is a variable retarder and has been used in a variety of application fields. A scheme based on the vectorial optical field is proposed to calibrate the SBC by transforming the change of the phase retardation into the visible rotation of the petal-like pattern. The relationship between the rotation angle of the petal-like pattern and the phase retardation of the SBC is established theoretically. In the experiment, the vector beam is generated by using the spiral phase plate (SPP) and the modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer based on the superposition principle of two orthogonal circularly polarized vortex beams with opposite topological charges. Taking advantage of the image processing method, the rotation angles of the acquired petal patterns are calculated, and the relationship between the phase retardation of the SBC and the displacements of its micrometer screw is determined. The measured phase retardation of the SBC ranges from −277.00° to 516.57°. By linearly fitting the experimental data, the phase sensitivity is 33.076 ± 0.147 °/mm, and the coefficient of determination value that shows the linearity of the experimental data is 0.9995. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical data.
OsBSK3 Positively Regulates Grain Length and Weight by Inhibiting the Phosphatase Activity of OsPPKL1
Authors: Tian Peng , Liu Jiafan , Yan Baohui , Li Shuai , Lei Bin , Shen Rongxin , Lei Cailin , Xu Miaoyun
Published: June 2022

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a crucial class of plant hormones that regulate many important agronomic traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.); thus, the BR signaling pathway is a very important tool for breeders to improve the grain yield and quantity of rice. Contrary to the well-established BR signaling pathway in Arabidopsis, there are significant gaps in the rice BR signaling pathway, especially the regulation mechanism from OsBSK3 to OsPPKLs and OsGSKs. In this study, we report how OsBSK3 knockout mutants confer shorter and lighter grains and exhibit a typical BR-insensitive phenotype, suggesting OsBSK3 plays a positive role in BR signaling without genetic redundancy with homologs. Furthermore, OsBSK3 could physically interact with OsPPKL1 and OsGSK3, the downstream components in BR signaling, as a scaffold protein, and inhibit the phosphatase activity of OsPPKL1 on the dephosphorylation of OsGSK3. In addition, the genetic evidence showed OsBSK3 acts upstream of OsPPKL1 in regulating grain length and weight. Our results clarify the role of OsBSK3 and provide new insights into BR-signaling mechanisms, leading to potential new targets for the genetic improvement of rice.
A Hydrodynamic–Elastic Numerical Case Study of a Solar Collector with a Double Enclosure Filled with Air and Fe3O4/Water Nanofluid
Authors: Nciri Rached , Alqurashi Faris , Ali Chaouki , Nasri Faouzi
Published: June 2022

This work deals with a numerical investigation of a hydrodynamic–elastic problem within the framework of a double enclosure solar collector technological configuration. The solar collector presents two enclosures separated by an elastic absorber wall. The upper enclosure is filled with air, whereas the lower one is filled with Fe3O4/water nanofluid. The mathematical model governing the thermal and flow behaviors of the considered nanofluid is elaborated. The effects of imposed hot temperatures, the Rayleigh number and air pressure on the nanofluid’s temperature contours, velocity magnitude distribution, temperature evolution, velocity magnitude evolution and Nusselt number evolutions are numerically investigated. The numerical results show and assess how the increase in the Rayleigh number affects convective heat transfer at the expense of the conductive one, as well as how much the Nusselt number and the nanofluid velocity magnitude and temperature are affected in a function of the imposed hot temperature type (uniformly or right-triangular distributed on the elastic absorber wall). Moreover, the results evaluate how increases in the air pressure applied on the elastic absorber wall affects the nanofluid’s temperature distribution.
Theological Valorization of the Other from an Orthodox Christian Perspective: Dorin Oancea’s Model of Theology of Religions in Relation to Social and Theological Developments of Modernity
Authors: Patru Alina
Published: June 2022

This paper analyzes the model of theology of religions elaborated by the Romanian Orthodox theologian Dorin Oancea and highlights the possibilities for openness towards other religious realms and for real theological validation of non-Christian religions. It focuses both on the modern premises of this model and on the ways in which the author ensures its continuity inside the Tradition and its acceptance within the Orthodox-Christian world. Dorin Oancea’s construct, a unique system of pluralistic inclusivism, elaborated by an Orthodox theologian who wants to remain aligned with the Eastern Orthodox patristic and traditional theological thinking while still addressing current topics by means of contemporary instruments and present-day language, is a valuable example of religious change that takes place within Orthodoxy, which is regarded as a traditional branch of Christianity. This paper identifies forms of theological newness in Dorin Oancea’s manner of addressing the challenges of present times in relation to the dynamics of the field of theology of religions and of Orthodox theology.
Possible Involvement of miR-98 in the Regulation of PGRMC1 During Decidualization
Authors: Tsuru Atsuya , Yoshie Mikihiro , Yonekawa Ryo , Kojima Junya , Azumi Mana , Kusama Kazuya , Nishi Hirotaka , Tamura Kazuhiro
Published: June 2022

Human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) differentiate into decidual cells for embryo implantation during the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. Decidualization is characterized by enhanced production of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) and prolactin (PRL) by ESCs and their morphological transformation into polygonal cells. Progesterone (P4) receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is a member of a P4-binding complex implicated in function in female reproduction. In this study, we explored the mechanisms that regulate PGRMC1 during decidualization of human ESCs. Immunohistochemical analysis of endometrial samples showed that PGRMC1 was expressed in endometrial glandular and luminal epithelial cells and stromal cells throughout the menstrual cycle; however, the protein level in stroma was reduced in the secretory phase. Incubation of ESCs with dibutyryl (db)-cAMP and P4 in vitro, which induces decidualization, decreased the PGRMC1 protein abundance. Further, treatment with a PGRMC1-targeting siRNA or PGRMC1 inhibitor (AG-205) promoted mRNA expression of the db-cAMP/P4- and db-cAMP-induced decidual markers IGFBP1 and PRL. Moreover, the microRNA miR-98, a potential repressor of PGRMC1, was upregulated during decidualization, and transfection of ESCs with a miR-98 mimic decreased the PGRMC1 protein level. These findings suggest that miR-98-mediated downregulation of endometrial PGRMC1 may promote decidualization for the establishment of pregnancy.
Multi-Prior Twin Least-Square Network for Anomaly Detection of Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Zhong Jiaping , Li Yunsong , Xie Weiying , Lei Jie , Jia Xiuping
Published: June 2022

Anomaly detection of hyperspectral imagery (HSI) identifies the very few samples that do not conform to an intricate background without priors. Despite the extensive success of hyperspectral interpretation techniques based on generative adversarial networks (GANs), applying trained GAN models to hyperspectral anomaly detection remains promising but challenging. Previous generative models can accurately learn the complex background distribution of HSI and typically convert the high-dimensional data back to the latent space to extract features to detect anomalies. However, both background modeling and feature-extraction methods can be improved to become ideal in terms of the modeling power and reconstruction consistency capability. In this work, we present a multi-prior-based network (MPN) to incorporate the well-trained GANs as effective priors to a general anomaly-detection task. In particular, we introduce multi-scale covariance maps (MCMs) of precise second-order statistics to construct multi-scale priors. The MCM strategy implicitly bridges the spectral- and spatial-specific information and fully represents multi-scale, enhanced information. Thus, we reliably and adaptively estimate the HSI label to alleviate the problem of insufficient priors. Moreover, the twin least-square loss is imposed to improve the generative ability and training stability in feature and image domains, as well as to overcome the gradient vanishing problem. Last but not least, the network, enforced with a new anomaly rejection loss, establishes a pure and discriminative background estimation.
Estimating Productivity Measures in Guayule Using UAS Imagery and Sentinel-2 Satellite Data
Authors: Combs Truman P. , Didan Kamel , Dierig David , Jarchow Christopher J. , Barreto-Muñoz Armando
Published: June 2022

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is a perennial desert shrub currently under investigation as a viable commercial alternative to the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), the traditional source of natural rubber. Previous studies on guayule have shown a close association between morphological traits or biomass and rubber content. We collected multispectral and RGB-derived Structure-from-motion (SfM) data using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS; drone) to determine if incorporating both high-resolution normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI; an indicator of plant health) and canopy height (CH) information could support model predictions of crop productivity. Ground-truth resource allocation in guayule was measured at four elevations (i.e., tiers) along the crop’s vertical profile using both traditional biomass measurement techniques and a novel volumetric measurement technique. Multiple linear regression models estimating fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), fresh volume (FV), fresh-weight-density (FWD), and dry-weight-density (DWD) were developed and their performance compared. Of the crop productivity measures considered, a model predicting FWD (i.e., the fresh weight of plant material adjusted by its freshly harvested volume) and incorporating NDVI, CH, NDVI:CH interaction, and tier parameters reported the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between field measurements and predictions, ranging from 9 to 13%. A reduced FWD model incorporating only NDVI and tier parameters was developed to explore the scalability of model predictions to medium spatial resolutions with Sentinel-2 satellite data. Across all UAS surveys and corresponding satellite imagery compared, MAPE between FWD model predictions for UAS and satellite data were below 3% irrespective of soil pixel influence.
The Warming Effect of Urbanization in the Urban Agglomeration Area Accelerates Vegetation Growth on the Urban–Rural Gradient
Authors: Feng Zhitao , Liu Zhenhuan , Zhou Yi
Published: June 2022

Urbanization has changed the environmental conditions of vegetation growth, such as the heat island effect, which has an indirect impact on vegetation growth. However, the extent to which the direct and indirect effects of the thermal environment changes caused by urbanization on vegetation growth are unclear. In this study, taking the example of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, a fast-growing national urban agglomeration in China, the relationship between vegetation growth and warming conditions during the period from 2001 to 2020 were explored by the net primary productivity (NPP) and land surface temperature (LST), based on the vegetation growth theory, in urban environments. The results show that there is a significant exponential relationship between the warming and the growth of large-scale vegetation. This relationship is mainly attributable to thermal environmental factors, since their multi-year average contribution rate on the interannual scale is 95.02%. The contribution rate varies on the seasonal scale, according to which the contribution rate is the largest in autumn and the smallest in winter. This research is of great significance for predicting the potential response of vegetation growth to future climate warming and improving vegetation growth in urban areas.
Comparative Study of the Es Layer between the Plateau and Plain Regions in China
Authors: Wang Wenxuan , Jiang Chunhua , Wei Lehui , Tang Qiong , Huang Wengeng , Shen Hua , Liu Tongxin , Yang Guobin , Zhou Chen , Zhao Zhengyu
Published: June 2022

The lower atmosphere forcing plays an important role in forming the sporadic E (Es) layer in the ionosphere. In this study, a comparative study of the Es layer recorded by ionosondes at the middle latitude regions was carried out between the plateau and plain regions in China. The two ionosonde stations (Zhangye, 39.21°N, 100.54°E and Beijing, 40.25°N, 116.25°E) are located at the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and North China Plain, respectively. The data during the year 2018 were used to reveal the characteristics of the Es layer. The occurrence probability, the critical frequency (foEs) and the base virtual height (h’Es) were considered in this study. Results show that: (1) The diurnal and seasonal variations of the occurrence probability between these two regions are similar. The maximum occurrence probability is at noontime and in the summer season. However, the Es at Zhangye occurred more frequently than Beijing at nighttime and in winter to early spring. (2) Similar to previous studies, the maximum value of foEs at Beijing mainly occurred in summer. Interestingly, the maximum value is in winter at Zhangye station. (3) The characteristics of the anomaly of the Es layer at Zhangye are mostly consistent with the characteristics of atmospheric gravity waves in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Therefore, compared with observations at Beijing, the anomalies of the Es layer at Zhangye (at night and in winter to spring) might be attributed to gravity waves in the lower atmosphere over the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.
Evaluation of Food Security Based on Remote Sensing Data—Taking Egypt as an Example
Authors: Shi Shuzhu , Ye Yu , Xiao Rui
Published: June 2022

Egypt, a country with a harsh natural environment and rapid population growth, is facing difficulty in ensuring its national food security. A novel model developed for assessing food security in Egypt, which applies remote sensing techniques, is presented. By extracting the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) mean texture features from Sentinel-1 and Landsat-7 images, the arable land used to grow grain crops was first classified and extracted using a support vector machine. In terms of the classified results, meteorological data, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach (CASA) model was adopted to compute the annual net primary production (NPP). Then, the NPP yield conversion formula was used to forecast the annual grain yield. Finally, a method for evaluating food security, which involves four dimensions, i.e., quantity security, economic security, quality security, and resource security, was established to evaluate food security in Egypt in 2010, 2015, and 2020. Based on the proposed model, a classification accuracy of the crop distribution map, which is above 82%, can be achieved. Moreover, the reliability of yield estimation is verified compared to the result estimated using statistics data provided by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Our evaluation results show that food security in Egypt is declining, the quantity and quality security show large fluctuations, and economic and resource security are relatively stable. This model can satisfy the requirements for estimating grain yield at a wide scale and evaluating food security on a national level. It can be used to provide useful suggestions for governments regarding improving food security.
Bayesian Bootstrap in Multiple Frames
Authors: Cocchi Daniela , Marchi Lorenzo , Ievoli Riccardo
Published: June 2022

Multiple frames are becoming increasingly relevant due to the spread of surveys conducted via registers. In this regard, estimators of population quantities have been proposed, including the multiplicity estimator. In all cases, variance estimation still remains a matter of debate. This paper explores the potential of Bayesian bootstrap techniques for computing such estimators. The suitability of the method, which is compared to the existing frequentist bootstrap, is shown by conducting a small-scale simulation study and a case study.
Derivation of Risk Factors to Quantify the Risk of Safety Accidents for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Construction Industry
Authors: Ahn Sungjin
Published: June 2022

The accident rate in the construction industry is much higher than in other industries. In particular, small- and medium-sized construction sites need to be managed by differentiating them from large construction sites. In order to create and manage a separate management guideline, a quantitative study on the difference between the two groups should be preceded. However, in previous studies, research particularly based on empirical and quantitative data is insufficient and somewhat inadequate. In this study, through statistical analysis of small- and medium-sized construction enterprises and large-scale construction enterprises, this research statistically proves the difference between the risk of occupational accidents. Furthermore, through multiple regression, safety accidents and significant factors of small- and medium-sized construction sites and large-scale construction companies have been verified and considered. The result shows the day of the week, accident time, and workers’ contract type are significant factors affecting construction workers’ accident risk for SMEs, while only the contract type was identified as a factor influencing accident risk for large construction companies. As this study aims at recognizing the risk factors of small-sized construction companies, the findings can provide effective references for assessing and managing the risks particular to the small- and medium-sized construction enterprises.
Airports in Communes before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Piotrowska-Trybull Marzena , Sirko Stanisław
Published: June 2022

Airports, linking air transport with other modes of transport, are indicated as one of the elements influencing regional and local development. Their presence strengthens the communication accessibility of a particular place in space attracting investors and dynamizing its development. Recently, the functioning of airports has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic drastically reducing passenger traffic at airports, which also translated into the situation of related companies and people who live near airports (commune). Assessing the impact of an airport on the socio-economic situation in a commune is difficult because, on the one hand, they create jobs and attract investors and, on the other hand, they generate noise and pollution. In this situation, a preliminary study was carried out in five communes throughout Poland. The aim of the research was to determine how residents and representatives of communes perceive airports located in their communes, in the context of the impact of these airports on the socio-economic situation in communes, also in the situation when the airports face problems resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was achieved using analysis of strategic documents of communes, analysis of data on the functioning of communes and airports in the period 2016–2021, and a diagnostic survey using interview and survey techniques. The survey research involved 600 respondents from 5 communes located in different regions of Poland and 5 representatives of their authorities. To analyze the collected material and present the results, Statistica v.13.3 and R/RStudio software were used.
Pull and Push Factors of Data Analytics Adoption and Its Mediating Role on Operational Performance
Authors: Chong Luther Yuong Qai , Lim Thien Sang
Published: June 2022

Despite the influx of data analytics (DA) practices among firms, their impact on operational performance remains ambiguous. This study examined the pull and push factors affecting the data analytics adoption (DAA) from the theoretical perspectives of the technology–organization–environment (TOE) model, theory of perceived risk (TPR), and resource-based view (RBV). The study analyzed data from 169 firms on the basis of the positivist paradigm and employed the partial least square to run the reflective–formative two-stage analysis. Accordingly, the results indicated that the three TOE model aspects exhibited a positive direct impact on DAA and indirectly impacted operational performance through DAA. However, the perceived risk did not display a similar effect in both situations. This study further revealed that the environment push factor had more explanatory power than the perceived risk pull factor, suggesting that a conducive TOE environment would motivate DAA, subsequently enhancing operational performance. The study provided valuable empirical evidence on the determinants of DAA and its subsequent effect on firms’ operational performance. Uniquely, the study also contributed to the literature from the perspective of higher-order-construct analysis in examining the determinants of DAA and its effect on operational performance. Furthermore, the mediation analysis covered the interaction of indirect-path coefficients, minimizing errors in interpreting the mediation effect.