bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Research Progress on Immortalization of Human B Cells
Authors: Xu Huiting , Xiang Xinxin , Ding Weizhe , Dong Wei , Hu Yihong
Published: December 2023

Human B cell immortalization that maintains the constant growth characteristics and antibody expression of B cells in vitro is very critical for the development of antibody drugs and products for the diagnosis and bio-therapeutics of human diseases. Human B cell immortalization methods include Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation, Simian virus 40 (SV40) virus infection, in vitro genetic modification, and activating CD40, etc. Immortalized human B cells produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) very efficiently, and the antibodies produced in this way can overcome the immune rejection caused by heterologous antibodies. It is an effective way to prepare mAbs and an important method for developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Currently, the US FDA has approved more than 100 mAbs against a wide range of illnesses such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. This paper reviews the research progress of human B cell immortalization, its methods, and future directions as it is a powerful tool for the development of monoclonal antibody preparation technology.
Introduction, Dispersal, and Predominance of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: y Castro Thaís Regina , Piccoli Bruna C. , Vieira Andressa A. , Casarin Bruna C. , Tessele Luíza F. , Salvato Richard S. , Gregianini Tatiana S. , Martins Leticia G. , Resende Paola Cristina , Pereira Elisa C. , Moreira Filipe R. R. , de Jesus Jaqueline G. , Seerig Ana Paula , Lobato Marcos Antonio O. , de Campos Marli M. A. , Goularte Juliana S. , da Silva Mariana S. , Demoliner Meriane , Filippi Micheli , Pereira Vyctoria M. A. Góes , Schwarzbold Alexandre V. , Spilki Fernando R. , Trindade Priscila A.
Published: December 2023

Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome can alter the virus’ fitness, leading to the emergence of variants of concern (VOC). In Brazil, the Gamma variant dominated the pandemic in the first half of 2021, and from June onwards, the first cases of Delta infection were documented. Here, we investigate the introduction and dispersal of the Delta variant in the RS state by sequencing 1077 SARS-CoV-2-positive samples from June to October 2021. Of these samples, 34.7% were identified as Gamma and 65.3% as Delta. Notably, 99.2% of Delta sequences were clustered within the 21J lineage, forming a significant Brazilian clade. The estimated clock rate was 5.97 × 10−4 substitutions per site per year. The Delta variant was first reported on 17 June in the Vinhedos Basalto microregion and rapidly spread, accounting for over 70% of cases within nine weeks. Despite this, the number of cases and deaths remained stable, possibly due to vaccination, prior infections, and the continued mandatory mask use. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the Delta variant circulating in the RS state, highlighting the importance of genomic surveillance for monitoring viral evolution, even when the impact of new variants may be less severe in a given region.
Characteristics, Whole-Genome Sequencing and Pathogenicity Analysis of Escherichia coli from a White Feather Broiler Farm
Authors: Wu Shaopeng , Cui Lulu , Han Yu , Lin Fang , Huang Jiaqi , Song Mengze , Lan Zouran , Sun Shuhong
Published: December 2023

Avian colibacillosis, caused by avian Escherichia coli (E. coli), has historically been one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in large-scale poultry production, causing growth delays and mortality in chickens, resulting in huge economic losses. In recent years, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multidrug resistance in E. coli as a significant global problem and long-term challenge. Resistant E. coli can be transmitted to humans through animal products or the environment, which presents significant public health concerns and food safety issues. In this study, we analyzed the features of 135 E. coli strains obtained from a white feather broiler farm in Shandong, China, including antimicrobial susceptibility tests, detection of class 1 integrons, drug resistance genes, virulence genes, and phylogenetic subgroups. It is particularly worrying that all 135 E. coli strains were resistant to at least five antibiotic agents, and 100% of them were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Notably, the resistance genes of blaTEM, blaCTX-M, qnrS, aaC4, tetA, and tetB exhibited a high prevalence of carriage among the tested resistance genes. However, mcr-2~mcr-9 were not detected, while the prevalence of mcr-1 was found to be 2.96%. The most common virulence genes detected were EAST1 (14.07%, encoding enterotoxins) and fyuA (14.81%, encoding biofilm formation). Phylogenetic subgroup analysis revealed that E. coli belonging to groups B2 and D, which are commonly associated with high virulence, constituted 2.22% and 11.11%, respectively. The positive rate of class 1 integrons was 31.1%. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and animal experiments were performed on a unique isolated strain called 21EC78 with an extremely strong membrane-forming capacity. The WGS results showed that 21EC78 carried 11 drug resistance genes and 16 virulence genes. Animal experiments showed that intraperitoneal injection with 2 × 105 CFU could cause the death of one-day-old SPF chickens in 3 days. However, the mortality of Luhua chickens was comparatively lower than that of SPF chickens. This study reports the isolation of multidrug-resistant E. coli strains in poultry, which may pose a potential threat to human health via the food chain. Furthermore, the findings of this study enhance our comprehension of the frequency and characteristics of multidrug-resistant E. coli in poultry farms, emphasizing the urgent need for improved and effective continuous surveillance to control its dissemination.
Sb-Doped Cerium Molybdate: An Emerging Material as Dielectric and Photocatalyst for the Removal of Diclofenac Potassium from Aqueous Media
Authors: Javaid Ayesha , Imran Muhammad , Kanwal Farah , Latif Shoomaila , Adil Syed Farooq , Shaik Mohammed Rafi , Khan Mujeeb
Published: December 2023

This work reports the influence of antimony substitution in a cerium molybdate lattice for improved dielectric and photocatalytic properties. For this purpose, a series of Ce2−xSbx(MoO4)3 (x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, and 0.09) were synthesized through a co-precipitation route. The as-synthesized materials were characterized for their optical properties, functional groups, chemical oxidation states, structural phases, surface properties, and dielectric characteristics using UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and impedance spectroscopy, respectively. UV–Vis study showed a prominent red shift of absorption maxima and a continuous decrease in band gap (3.35 eV to 2.79 eV) by increasing the dopant concentration. The presence of Ce–O and Mo–O–Mo bonds, detected via FTIR and Raman spectroscopies, are confirmed, indicating the successful synthesis of the desired material. The monoclinic phase was dominant in all materials, and the crystallite size was decreased from 40.29 nm to 29.09 nm by increasing the Sb content. A significant increase in the dielectric constant (ε′ = 2.856 × 108, 20 Hz) and a decrease in the loss tan (tanδ = 1.647, 20 Hz) were exhibited as functions of the increasing Sb concentration. Furthermore, the photocatalytic efficiency of pristine cerium molybdate was also increased by 1.24 times against diclofenac potassium by incorporating Sb (x = 0.09) in the cerium molybdate. The photocatalytic efficiency of 85.8% was achieved within 180 min of UV light exposure at optimized conditions. The photocatalytic reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with an apparent rate constant of 0.0105 min−1, and the photocatalyst was recyclable with good photocatalytic activity even after five successive runs. Overall, the as-synthesized Sb-doped cerium molybdate material has proven to be a promising candidate for charge storage devices and a sustainable photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.
Functionalized Biochar from the Amazonian Residual Biomass Murici Seed: An Effective and Low-Cost Basic Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Synthesis
Authors: Ribeiro Thaissa Saraiva , Gonçalves Matheus Arrais , da Rocha Filho Geraldo Narciso , da Conceição Leyvison Rafael Vieira
Published: December 2023

This study presents the synthesis of a basic heterogeneous catalyst based on sodium functionalized biochar. The murici biochar (BCAM) support used in the process was obtained through the pyrolysis of the murici seed (Byrsonimia crassifolia), followed by impregnation of the active phase in amounts that made it possible to obtain concentrations of 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18% of sodium in the final composition of the catalyst. The best-performing 15Na/BCAM catalyst was characterized by Elemental Composition (CHNS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG/DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersion X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The catalyst 15Na/BCAM was applied under optimal reaction conditions: temperature of 75 °C, reaction time of 1.5 h, catalyst concentration of 5% (w/w) and MeOH:oil molar ratio of 20:1, resulting in a biodiesel with ester content of 97.20% ± 0.31 in the first reaction cycle, and maintenance of catalytic activity for five reaction cycles with ester content above 65%. Furthermore, the study demonstrated an effective catalyst regeneration process, with the synthesized biodiesels maintaining ester content above 75% for another five reaction cycles. Thus, the data indicate a promising alternative to low-cost residual raw materials for the synthesis of basic heterogeneous catalysts.
Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes as Flocculants and Retention Aids in Wet-End Papermaking
Authors: Su Na
Published: December 2023

As the criteria of energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection become more important, and with the development of wet-end papermaking, developing excellent retention aids is of great significance. Spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPBs) bearing polyelectrolyte chains grafted densely to the surface of core particle have the potential to be novel retention aids in wet-end papermaking not only because of their spherical structure, but also due to controllable grafting density and molecular weight. Such characteristics are crucial in order to design multi-functional retention aids in sophisticated papermaking systems. This review presents some important recent advances with respect to retention aids, including single-component system and dual-component systems. Then, basic theory in papermaking is also briefly reviewed. Based on these advances, it emphatically describes spherical polyelectrolyte brushes, focused on their preparation methods, characterization, conformation, and applications in papermaking. This work is expected to contribute to improve a comprehensive understanding on the composition, properties, and function mechanisms of retention aids, which helps in the further investigation on the design of novel retention aids with excellent performance.
Recent Advances in Chiral Schiff Base Compounds in 2023
Authors: Takeda China , Nakane Daisuke , Akitsu Takashiro
Published: December 2023

Schiff bases (imine or azomethine –N=CH–), which were first obtained by a German chemist, H [...]
Post-Chromatographic Derivatization Coupled with Mass Spectrometry as a Method of Profiling and Identification of Antioxidants; Ligustrum vulgare Phytocomplex as an Example
Authors: Litewski Szymon , Mróz Marika , Bartoszek Agnieszka , Kusznierewicz Barbara
Published: December 2023

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) coupled with radical scavenging assays, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) can be both used for the detection of the antioxidants in plant extracts. In this study, the ethanolic (70% v/v) extracts from different morphological parts of Ligustrum vulgare collected at different stages of maturity were used as the source of antioxidants. The final identification of antioxidants was performed using high-resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS). As a result, 19 compounds with antioxidant properties detected with HPLC-ABTS assay and 10 compounds detected with HPTLC-DPPH/ABTS assay were identified, mostly from the group of iridoids, phenylethanoids, and flavonoids. When comparing different L. vulgare samples, it was found that the extracts obtained from leaves contained the greatest number of antioxidants. The results of this study suggest that HPTLC-DPPH/ABTS as well as HPLC-ABTS derivatization coupled with the HRMS can be successfully used for profiling and identification of antioxidants from natural sources. Planar chromatography is more suitable for screening multiple samples because of its simplicity, whereas more challenging liquid chromatography provides more detailed information and is therefore better for a selected set of samples.
Cancer Marker Immunosensing through Surface-Enhanced Photoluminescence on Nanostructured Silver Substrates
Authors: Geka Georgia , Kanioura Anastasia , Kochylas Ioannis , Likodimos Vlassis , Gardelis Spiros , Dimitriou Anastasios , Papanikolaou Nikolaos , Chatzantonaki Kalliopi , Charvalos Ekaterina , Economou Anastasios , Kakabakos Sotirios , Petrou Panagiota
Published: December 2023

Nanostructured noble metal surfaces enhance the photoluminescence emitted by fluorescent molecules, permitting the development of highly sensitive fluorescence immunoassays. To this end, surfaces with silicon nanowires decorated with silver nanoparticles in the form of dendrites or aggregates were evaluated as substrates for the immunochemical detection of two ovarian cancer indicators, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4). The substrates were prepared by metal-enhanced chemical etching of silicon wafers to create, in one step, silicon nanowires and silver nanoparticles on top of them. For both analytes, non-competitive immunoassays were developed using pairs of highly specific monoclonal antibodies, one for analyte capture on the substrate and the other for detection. In order to facilitate the identification of the immunocomplexes through a reaction with streptavidin labeled with Rhodamine Red-X, the detection antibodies were biotinylated. An in-house-developed optical set-up was used for photoluminescence signal measurements after assay completion. The detection limits achieved were 2.5 U/mL and 3.12 pM for CA125 and HE4, respectively, with linear dynamic ranges extending up to 500 U/mL for CA125 and up to 500 pM for HE4, covering the concentration ranges of both healthy and ovarian cancer patients. Thus, the proposed method could be implemented for the early diagnosis and/or prognosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer.
Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota from Rats Induced by Se Deficiency and T-2 Toxin
Authors: Wu Yifan , Gong Yi , Zhang Yu , Li Shujin , Wang Chaowei , Yuan Yuequan , Lv Xi , Liu Yanli , Chen Feihong , Chen Sijie , Zhang Feiyu , Guo Xiong , Wang Xi , Ning Yujie , Zhao Hongmou
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in gut microbiota between selenium deficiency and T-2 toxin intervention rats. Knee joint and fecal samples of rats were collected. The pathological characteristics of knee cartilage were observed by safranin O/fast green staining. DNA was extracted from fecal samples for PCR amplification, and 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to compare the gut microbiota of rats. At the phylum level, Firmicutes (81.39% vs. 77.06%) and Bacteroidetes (11.11% vs. 14.85%) were dominant in the Se-deficient (SD) group and T-2 exposure (T-2) groups. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus_1 (12.62%) and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 (10.31%) in the SD group were higher. In the T-2 group, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (11.71%) and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 (9.26%) were higher. At the species level, the high-quality bacteria in the SD group was Ruminococcus_1_unclassified, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005_unclassified in the T-2 group. Lactobacillus_sp__L_YJ and Lactobacillus_crispatus were the most significant biomarkers in the T-2 group. This study analyzed the different compositions of gut microbiota in rats induced by selenium deficiency and T-2 toxin, and revealed the changes in gut microbiota, so as to provide a certain basis for promoting the study of the pathogenesis of Kashin–Beck disease (KBD).
Vascularizing Organoids to Promote Long-Term Organogenesis on a Chip
Authors: Wang Xinhui , Bijonowski Brent , Kurniawan Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Organoids have emerged as a powerful tool for studying organ development, disease modeling, and drug discovery due to their ability to mimic the in vivo structure and function of organs in a three-dimensional in vitro model. During in vivo organ maturation, the process of vascularization is crucial for the provision of nutrients and oxygen to cells and the removal of waste products as the organ increases in size. Similarly, organoids can grow to sizes greater than the millimeter scale, yet transport of oxygen and nutrients to the center becomes increasingly difficult, often resulting in the formation of a necrotic core. Herein, we provide a concise summary of the recent development of methods to initiate and maintain vascularization of organoids. Broadly, vascularization of organoids has been achieved primarily by two means: generating organoids that contain endothelial cells or employing the secretion of vascular growth factors to promote vascularization. Growth factors play a fundamental role in regulating blood vessel formation through chemical signals that cause changes in the cell–cell adhesions and ultimately the migration of endothelial cells. Furthermore, models with perfusable systems demonstrate that through the application of growth factors and cells, the vascular network in vascularization-based organoids can administer biological substances to the interior of the organoid, opening up new possibilities for long-term organoid culture in vitro. This goal is being realized through the development of bioengineering tools, such as vascularized organoids on a chip, which are currently tested for various organ systems, including the lung, brain, kidney, and tumors, with applications in cancer angiogenesis and metastasis research. Taken together, our review underlines the vast potential of vascularized organoids to improve the understanding of organ development, while also proposing exciting avenues of organoid-on-a-chip and disease modeling.
An Integrated Ecological Niche Modelling Framework for Risk Mapping of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Exposure in African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem
Authors: Carrera-Faja Laura , Yesson Chris , Jones Bryony A. , Benfield Camilla T. O. , Kock Richard A.
Published: December 2023

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants that threatens livelihoods and food security in developing countries and, in some cases, wild ungulate species conservation. The Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) encompasses one of the major wildlife populations of PPR virus (PPRV)-susceptible species left on earth, although no clinical disease has been reported so far. This study aimed to gain further knowledge about PPRV circulation in the GSME by identifying which factors predict PPRV seropositivity in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Following an ecological niche modeling framework to map host-pathogen distribution, two models of PPRV exposure and buffalo habitat suitability were performed using serological data and buffalo censuses. Western Maasai Mara National Reserve and Western Serengeti National Park were identified as high-risk areas for PPRV exposure in buffalo. Variables related to wildlife-livestock interaction contributed to the higher risk of PPRV seropositivity in buffalo, providing supportive evidence that buffalo acquire the virus through contact with infected livestock. These findings can guide the design of cost-effective PPRV surveillance using buffalo as a sentinel species at the identified high-risk locations. As more intensive studies have been carried out in Eastern GSME, this study highlights the need for investigating PPRV dynamics in Western GSME.
Yield and Composition of the Essential Oil of Clinopodium nepeta subsp. spruneri as Affected by Harvest Season and Cultivation Method, i.e., Outdoor, Greenhouse and In Vitro Culture
Authors: Vlachou Georgia , Papafotiou Maria , Daferera Dimitra J. , Tarantilis Petros A.
Published: December 2023

Clinopodium nepeta subsp. spruneri is an aromatic herb with a mint-oregano flavor, used in Mediterranean regions in traditional medicine. The aerial parts of the plant are rich in essential oil that has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as insecticidal activity. The aim of our work was to determine the yield and composition of the essential oil of the plant, in relation to the harvest season and cultivation method, i.e., outdoor, greenhouse and in vitro culture, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as an analytical tool. Essential oil yield fluctuated similarly in outdoor and greenhouse plants during the year (0.9–2.6%), with higher percentages (2.1–2.6%) in the hottest periods June–October (flowering stage) and April (vegetative stage), and was similar to the yield in in vitro plants (1.7%). More compounds were identified in the oil of outdoor and greenhouse plants (35) compared to that of in vitro plants (21), while the main compounds were the same, i.e., pulegone (13.0–32.0%, highest in February–April, 15.0% in vitro), piperitenone oxide (3.8–31.8%, lowest in February, 34.2% in vitro), piperitone epoxide (4.6–16.4%, highest in February, 15.5% in vitro), D-limonene (2.1–8.8%, lowest in February, 10.0% in vitro), isomenthone (2.3–23.0%, highest in February, 4.6% in vitro), germacrene D (1.9–6.5% highest in December-April, 2.9% in vitro) and dicyclogermacrene (2.1–5.3%, highest in December–April, 5.2% in vitro). Therefore, greenhouse and in vitro cultures were equally efficient in yielding essential oil and its constituents as outdoor cultivation, while in outdoor and greenhouse cultivations, the harvest season, mainly due to the prevailing ambient temperatures, affected the essential oil yield and its percentage composition.
Shade Effect on Phenology, Fruit Yield, and Phenolic Content of Two Wild Blueberry Species in Northwestern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Dyukaryeva Viktoriya , Mallik Azim U.
Published: December 2023

We studied the effect of shade on the phenology, growth, berry yield, and chemical content of two common blueberry species (Vaccinium myrtilloides and V. angustifolium) in Northwestern Ontario. We hypothesized that high shade would delay vegetative and reproductive phenology and decrease berry yield by increasing resource allocation to vegetative vs. reproductive growth, whereas moderate shade would increase berry phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. We subjected transplanted blueberry plants to a controlled shade treatment and evaluated plant phenological events, vegetative and reproductive growth, berry phenolics, and antioxidant capacity. High shade caused an earlier leaf maturation in V. myrtilloides, delayed flowering in V. angustifolium, and prolonged fruit maturation in both. The berry yield of both species decreased with increasing shade. High shade reduced the berry phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, especially in V. myrtilloides. We concluded that shade shifts species-specific vegetative and reproductive phenology, leading to a difference in resource acquisition, resulting in lower berry yield and antioxidant activity.
Analysis of Characteristics in the Macro-Composition and Volatile Compounds of Understory Xiaobai White Tea
Authors: Zhang Mengcong , Zhou Chengzhe , Zhang Cheng , Xu Kai , Lu Li , Huang Linjie , Zhang Lixuan , Li Huang , Zhu Xuefang , Lai Zhongxiong , Guo Yuqiong
Published: December 2023

Understory planting affects the growth environment of tea plants, regulating the tea plant growth and the formation of secondary metabolites, which in turn affects the flavor of Xiaobai white tea. The present research adopted biochemical composition determination, widely targeted volatilities (WTV) analysis, multivariate statistical analysis, and odor activity value (OAV) analysis to analyze the characteristics in the macro-composition and volatile compounds of understory white tea. The sensory evaluation results indicated that understory Xiaobai white tea (LWTs) was stronger than ordinary Xiaobai white tea (PWTs) in terms of the taste of smoothness, sweetness, and thickness as well as the aromas of the flower and sweet. Understory planting reduced light intensity and air temperature, increased air humidity, organic matter, total nitrogen, and available nitrogen contents, which improved the growth environment of tea plants. The phytochemical analysis showed that the water-extractable substances, caffeine, flavonoids, and soluble sugar contents of understory tea fresh-leaf (LF) were higher than those of ordinary fresh-leaf (PF). The phytochemical analysis showed that the free amino acids, theaflavins, thearubigins, water-extractable substances, and tea polyphenols contents of LWTs were significantly higher than those of PWTs, which may explain the higher smoothness, sweetness, and thickness scores of LWTs than those of PWTs. The 2-heptanol, 2-decane, damasone, and cedar alcohol contents were significantly higher in LWTs than in PWTs, which may result in stronger flowery and sweet aromas in LWTs than in PWTs. These results provide a firm experimental basis for the observed differences in the flavor of LWTs and PWTs.
Optimization Algorithm and Genetic Coding Method for an Oilfield Development Plan Considering Production Constraints
Authors: Zhang Rong , Zhang Guowei , Li Guanqun , Li Juhua , Zhang Na
Published: December 2023

For heterogeneous reservoirs that develop due to water flooding, the increased degree of flooding will cause unbalanced displacement, and there are large areas of residual oil enrichment in the reservoir. In this paper, a genetic coding method for oilfield development plan optimization that considers production constraints is proposed. This method considers the constraints of well location, oil and water well type, the open horizon and its combination, water injection volume, and the liquid production index in the actual oilfield development design. On the basis of genetic algorithms and the individual quality inspection method, a program for regulating and optimizing the overall development index of reservoirs was developed. A comprehensive optimization calculation was carried out for the H block. In the process of executing the algorithm, invalid schemes of 16.6–20.2% were eliminated, crude oil recovery increased by 5.56%, and the water cut decreased by 1.81%. The research results show that, compared with a conventional oil and water well production and development plan for an oilfield, this program can greatly improve efficiency and promote the automatic optimization of the overall development index of the reservoir, which is in line with the actual situation of the oilfield.
Analyzing Local Shear Rate Distribution in a Dual Coaxial Mixing Bioreactor Handling Herschel–Bulkley Biopolymer Solutions through Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Sharifi Forough , Behzadfar Ehsan , Ein-Mozaffari Farhad
Published: December 2023

For the aeration of highly viscous non-Newtonian fluids, prior studies have demonstrated the improved efficacy of dual coaxial mixing bioreactors fitted with two central impellers and a close clearance anchor. Evaluating the effectiveness of these bioreactors involves considering various mixing characteristics, with a specific emphasis on shear rate distribution. The study of shear rate distribution is critical due to its significant impact on the mixing performance, gas dispersion, and homogeneity in aerated mixing systems comprising shear-thinning fluids. Although yield-pseudoplastic fluids are commonly employed in various industries, there is a research gap when it comes to evaluating shear rate distribution in aerated mixing bioreactors that utilize this fluid type. This study aims to investigate shear rate distribution in an aerated double coaxial bioreactor that handles a 1 wt% xanthan gum solution, known as a Herschel–Bulkley fluid. To achieve this goal, we employed an experimentally validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to assess the effect of different mixing configurations, including down-pumping and co-rotating (Down-Co), up-pumping and co-rotating (Up-Co), down-pumping and counter-rotating (Down-Counter), and up-pumping and counter-rotating (Up-Counter) modes, on the shear rate distribution within the coaxial mixing bioreactor. Our findings revealed that the Up-Co system led to a more uniform local shear distribution and improved mixing performance.
Improvement of an Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Prediction Model Based on the Similarity Method: A Case Study of Office Building Cooling Load Prediction
Authors: Yuan Tianhao , Liu Zeyu , Zhang Linlin , Fan Dongyang , Chen Jun
Published: December 2023

Artificial intelligence algorithms (AIAs) have gained widespread adoption in air conditioning load prediction. However, their prediction accuracy is substantially influenced by the quality of training samples. To improve the prediction accuracy of air conditioning load, this study presents an AIA prediction model based on the method of similarity sample screening. Initially, the comprehensive similarity coefficient between samples was obtained by using the gray correlation method improved with information entropy. Subsequently, a subset of closely related samples was extracted from the original dataset and employed to train the artificial intelligence prediction model. Finally, the trained AIA prediction model was used to predict the air conditioning load. The results illustrate that the method of similarity sample screening effectively improved the prediction accuracy of BP neural network (BPNN) and extreme learning machine (ELM) prediction models. However, it is essential to note that this approach may not be suitable for genetic algorithm BPNN (GABPNN) and support vector regression (SVR) models.
The Theodicy Challenge and the Intelligibility of the World
Authors: Oleksowicz Michał , Kłosowski Michał
Published: December 2023

This paper revisits one of the most difficult theological issues, namely God’s infinite goodness and the presence of pain and suffering in the natural world. We deepen the understanding of this problem by referring to the philosophical notion of the intelligibility of the world. We argue that pain and suffering are present in biological evolution as a “structural necessity” for the development of more complex structures from simpler ones. The struggle for existence works as a necessary condition for the development of a sophisticated order of nature at the expense of an increase in pain and suffering. If this is so, arguments justifying the ways of a good, omniscient, and omnipotent God in a world where evil and suffering are widespread seem to be undercut. Therefore, we argue that the astonishing intelligibility of nature may help to open our understanding of whatever nature may reveal of itself. This notion—analyzed from ontic and epistemic perspectives—seems to be crucial in reflecting the evolving world, not only from the scientific point of view but also from the theological one.
The Applications of Generalized Poisson Regression Models to Insurance Claim Data
Authors: Faroughi Pouya , Li Shu , Ren Jiandong
Published: December 2023

Predictive modeling has been widely used for insurance rate making. In this paper, we focus on insurance claim count data and address their common issues with more flexible modeling techniques. In particular, we study the zero-inflated and hurdle-generalized Poisson and negative binomial distributions in a functional form for modeling insurance claim count data. It is shown that these models are useful in addressing the problem of excess zeros and over-dispersion of the claim count variable. In addition, we show that including the exposure as a covariate in both the zero and the count part of the model is an effective approach to incorporating exposure information in zero-inflated and hurdle models. We illustrate the effectiveness and versatility of the introduced models using three real datasets. The results suggest their promising applications in insurance risk classification and beyond.
Aboveground Forest Biomass Estimation Using Tent Mapping Atom Search Optimized Backpropagation Neural Network with Landsat 8 and Sentinel-1A Data
Authors: Chen Zhao , Sun Zhibin , Zhang Huaiqing , Zhang Huacong , Qiu Hanqing
Published: December 2023

Accurate forest biomass estimation serves as the foundation of forest management and holds critical significance for a comprehensive understanding of forest carbon storage and balance. This study aimed to integrate Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-1A SAR satellite image data and selected a portion of the Shanxia Experimental Forest in Jiangxi Province as the study area to establish a biomass estimation model by screening influencing factors. Firstly, we extracted spectral information, vegetation indices, principal component features, and texture features within 3 × 3-pixel neighborhoods from Landsat 8 OLI. Moreover, we incorporated Sentinel-1’s VV (vertical transmit–vertical receive) and VH (vertical transmit–horizontal receive) polarizations. We proposed an ensemble AGB (aboveground biomass) model based on a neural network. In addition to the neural network model, namely the tent mapping atom search optimized BP neural network (Tent_ASO_BP) model, partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector machine (SVR), and random forest (RF) regression prediction techniques were also employed to establish the relationship between multisource remote sensing data and forest biomass. Optical variables (Landsat 8 OLI), SAR variables (Sentinel-1A), and their combinations were input into the four prediction models. The results indicate that Tent_ ASO_ BP model can better estimate forest biomass. Compared to pure optical or single microwave data, the Tent_ASO_BP model with the optimal combination of optical and microwave input features achieved the highest accuracy. Its R2 was 0.74, root mean square error (RMSE) was 11.54 Mg/ha, and mean absolute error (MAE) was 9.06 Mg/ha. Following this, the RF model (R2 = 0.54, RMSE = 21.33 Mg/ha, MAE = 17.35 Mg/ha), SVR (R2 = 0.52, RMSE = 17.66 Mg/ha, MAE = 15.11 Mg/ha), and PLSR (R2 = 0.50, RMSE = 16.52 Mg/ha, MAE = 12.15 Mg/ha) models were employed. In conclusion, the BP neural network model improved by tent mapping atom search optimization algorithm significantly enhanced the accuracy of AGB estimation in biomass studies. This will provide a new avenue for large-scale forest resource surveys.
Characteristics of Inter-System Bias between BDS-2 and BDS-3 and Its Impact on BDS Orbit and Clock Solutions
Authors: Xu Xiaolong , Cai Zhan
Published: December 2023

The inter-system-like bias between the regional (BDS-2) and global (BDS-3) constellation of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been identified on common B1I pseudo-range observations. In this study, its characteristics are investigated with tracking data from the International GNSS Service (IGS) and International GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS) network. Firstly, the satellite-specific inter-system-like bias is calculated and the dependency on satellite is observed. Clearly noticeable discrepancies on BDS-2 and BDS-3 can be identified. Hence, the constellation-specific inter-system-like bias is estimated. Biases for all receivers are quite stable, with standard derivation (STDev) less than 0.2 m in average. The bias shows clear dependence on the receiver, while the firmware and antenna have limited but not negligible impacts, particularly for Trimble NetR9 and Alloy receivers. The Trimble NetR9 with TRM59800.00 antenna shows noticeable discrepancy up to about 1.5 m with different antenna, and the bias of the Trimble Alloy 5.37 jumps about 2.4 m with respect to later firmware. In addition, clear annual variations are observed for stations ABPO and MIZU with Septentrio POLARX5 5.3.2 and ASTERX4 4.4.2 receivers, respectively. Furthermore, the impacts of the biases on the BDS orbit and clock solutions are analyzed. Once BDS-2 and BDS-3 are treated as two independent systems, the root mean square (RMS) of code and carrier phase residuals can be reduced by around 9.3 cm and 0.23 mm, respectively, while the three-dimensional orbit consistency is improved by 6.8%, mainly in the tracking direction. Satellite laser ranging (SLR) shows marginal impacts on IGSO and MEO satellites. However, the SLR residual of C01 shifts −13.2 cm, resulting in a smaller RMS value. In addition, the RMS of linear clock fitting is reduced from 0.050 ns to 0.038 ns for BDS-3 MEO satellites in average.
A Semi-Supervised Deep Learning Framework for Change Detection in Open-Pit Mines Using SAR Imagery
Authors: Murdaca Gianluca , Ricciuti Federico , Rucci Alessio , Le Saux Bertrand , Fumagalli Alfio , Prati Claudio
Published: December 2023

Detecting and monitoring changes in open-pit mines is crucial for efficient mining operations. Indeed, these changes comprise a broad spectrum of activities that can often lead to significant environmental impacts such as surface damage, air pollution, soil erosion, and ecosystem degradation. Conventional optical sensors face limitations due to cloud cover, hindering accurate observation of the mining area. To overcome this challenge, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images have emerged as a powerful solution, due to their unique ability to penetrate clouds and provide a clear view of the ground. The open-pit mine change detection task presents significant challenges, justifying the need for a model trained for this specific task. First, different mining areas frequently include various features, resulting in a diverse range of land cover types within a single scene. This heterogeneity complicates the detection and distinction of changes within open-pit mines. Second, pseudo changes, e.g., equipment movements or humidity fluctuations, which show statistically reliable reflectivity changes, lead to false positives, as they do not directly correspond to the actual changes of interest, i.e., blasting, collapsing, or waste pile operations. In this paper, to the best of our knowledge, we present the first deep learning model in the literature that can accurately detect changes within open-pit mines using SAR images (TerraSAR-X). We showcase the fundamental role of data augmentations and a coherence layer as a critical component in enhancing the model’s performance, which initially relied solely on amplitude information. In addition, we demonstrate how, in the presence of a few labels, a pseudo-labeling pipeline can improve the model robustness, without degrading the performance by introducing misclassification points related to pseudo changes. The F1-Score results show that our deep learning approach is a reliable and effective method for SAR change detection in the open-pit mining sector.
TRCCBP: Transformer Network for Radar-Based Contactless Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Jiang Xikang , Zhang Jinhui , Mu Wenyao , Wang Kun , Li Lei , Zhang Lin
Published: December 2023

Contactless continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring is of great significance for daily healthcare. Radar-based continuous monitoring methods typically extract time-domain features manually such as pulse transit time (PTT) to calculate the BP. However, breathing and slight body movements usually distort the features extracted from pulse-wave signals, especially in long-term continuous monitoring, and manually extracted features may have limited performance for BP estimation. This article proposes a Transformer network for Radar-based Contactless Continuous Blood Pressure monitoring (TRCCBP). A heartbeat signal-guided single-beat pulse wave extraction method is designed to obtain pure pulse-wave signals. A transformer network-based blood pressure estimation network is proposed to estimate BP, which utilizes convolutional layers with different scales, a gated recurrent unit (GRU) to capture time-dependence in continuous radar signal and multi-head attention modules to capture deep temporal domain characteristics. A radar signal dataset captured in an indoor environment containing 31 persons and a real medical situation containing five persons is set up to evaluate the performance of TRCCBP. Compared with the state-of-the-art method, the average accuracy of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) is 4.49 mmHg and 4.73 mmHg, improved by 12.36 mmHg and 8.80 mmHg, respectively. The proposed TRCCBP source codes and radar signal dataset have been made open-source online for further research.
A Novel Correction Methodology to Improve the Performance of a Low-Cost Hyperspectral Portable Snapshot Camera
Authors: Genangeli Andrea , Avola Giovanni , Bindi Marco , Cantini Claudio , Cellini Francesco , Riggi Ezio , Gioli Beniamino
Published: December 2023

The development of spectral sensors (SSs) capable of retrieving spectral information have opened new opportunities to improve several environmental and agricultural practices, e.g., crop breeding, plant phenotyping, land use monitoring, and crop classification. The SSs are classified as multispectral and hyperspectral (HS) based on the number of the spectral bands resolved and sampled during data acquisition. Large-scale applications of the HS remain limited due to the cost of this type of technology and the technical difficulties in hyperspectral data processing. Low-cost portable hyperspectral cameras (PHCs) have been progressively developed; however, critical aspects associated with data acquisition and processing, such as the presence of spectral discontinuities, signal jumps, and a high level of background noise, were reported. The aim of this work was to analyze and improve the hyperspectral output of a PHC Senop HSC-2 device by developing a general use methodology. Several signal gaps were identified as falls and jumps across the spectral signatures near 513, 650, and 930 nm, while the dark current signal magnitude and variability associated with instrumental noise showed an increasing trend over time. A data correction pipeline was successfully developed and tested, leading to 99% and 74% reductions in radiance signal jumps identified at 650 and 830 nm, respectively, while the impact of noise on the acquired signal was assessed to be in the range of 10% to 15%. The developed methodology can be effectively applied to other low-cost hyperspectral cameras.
Research Progress on Extraction, Separation, and Purification Methods of Plant Essential Oils
Authors: Zhou Weiwei , Li Jun , Wang Xuefeng , Liu Ling , Li Yun , Song Rui , Zhang Mengxue , Li Xiumei
Published: December 2023

Essential oils (EOs), also called liquid gold, are known for their wide range of applications and biological activities. The modern use of EOs has received increasing attention for more than 60 years. The precious EOs have been refined from plant raw materials using a variety of methods. Since the extraction, separation, and purification methods determine the type, quantity, and stereochemical structure of EO molecules as well as the final yield and quality of EOs, the selection of an appropriate method is crucial. The traditional and emerging extraction methods (hydrodistillation, steam distillation, organic solvent extraction, etc.), as well as separation and purification methods (chromatography, macroporous resin, chemical reaction, etc.), of plant EOs and their main volatile compounds were shown. Our review focused on the principles, processes, characteristics, and applications of these methods, so as to better understand the preparation of pure plant EOs and further guide their large-scale use.
Digital Activism Masked―The Fridays for Future Movement and the “Global Day of Climate Action”: Testing Social Function and Framing Typologies of Claims on Twitter
Authors: Fernández-Zubieta Ana , Guevara Juan Antonio , Caballero Roldan Rafael , Robles José Manuel
Published: December 2023

This article analyzed the Fridays for Future (FFF) movement and its online mobilization around the Global Day of Climate Action on 25 September 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event is a unique opportunity to study digital activism as marchers were considered not appropriate. Using Twitter’s API with keywords “#climateStrike”, and “#FridaysForFuture”, we collected 111,844 unique tweets and retweets from 47,892 unique users. We used two typologies based on social media activism and framing literature to understand the main function of tweets (information opinion, mobilization, and blame) and their framing (diagnosis, prognosis, and motivational). We also analyzed its relationship and tested its automated classification potential. To do so we manually coded a randomly selected sample of 950 tweets that were used as input for the automated classification process (SVM algorithm with balancing classification techniques). We found that the automated classification of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to not increase the mobilization function of tweets, as the frequencies of mobilization tweets were low. We also found a balanced diversity of framing tasks, with an important number of tweets that envisaged solutions to legislation and policy changes. COVID-related tweets were less frequently prognostically framed. We found that both typologies were not independent. Tweets with a blaming function tended to be framed in a prognostic way and therefore were related to possible solutions. The automated data classification model performed well, especially across social function typology and the “other” category. This indicated that these tools could help researchers working with social media data to process the information across categories that are currently mainly processed manually.
Bioinput Inoculation in Common Beans to Mitigate Stresses Caused by a Period of Drought
Authors: Arruda Bruna , Bejarano-Herrera Wilfrand Ferney , Ortega-Cepeda Maria Camila , Campo-Quesada Jose Manuel , Toro-Tobón Gabriela , Estrada-Bonilla German Andres , Silva Antonio Marcos Miranda , Ferrari Putti Fernando
Published: December 2023

Drought conditions have made it difficult for farmers to ensure the productivity of their crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of bioinputs in stress mitigation after a drought event in common beans. Two experiments were set up in a greenhouse. Firstly, two types of soils (clayey and sandy loam) were used. After seedling emergence, treatments were set: no bacteria inoculation (NB) and inoculation with Herbaspirillum frisingense AP21. Then, a differentiation on the irrigation (15 days) was performed with no water restriction (NWR) and with water restriction (WWR). Transpiration, stomatal conductance, leaf dry matter and proline were measured. Secondly, in the clayey soil, the bacteria treatments were NB, Herbaspirillum frisingense AP21, Rhizobium leguminosarum T88 and co-inoculation (AP21 + T88). A differentiation on the irrigation (15 days) was performed: NWR and WWR. Then, Fv/Fm, photosynthetic rate, proline and sugars were assessed, and the harvest occurred 97 days after emergence. For sandy loam soil bioinputs, they did not have an effect on the parameters evaluated. For clayey soil, H. frisingense AP21 increased the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance and hence improved the leaf dry matter in comparison to NB. Under WWR, the isolated inoculations of AP21 and T88 increased grain dry matter, but the co-inoculation showed low grain production, similar to no bacteria inoculation.