bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooling-System Configurations of a Dual-Stack Fuel-Cell System for Medium-Duty Trucks
Authors: Woo Jongbin , Kim Younghyeon , Yu Sangseok
Published: February 2023

Presently, hydrogen-fuel-cell medium-duty trucks utilize two or more modular proton exchange membrane fuel-cell stacks due to package space and economic concerns. The fuel-cell system of medium-duty trucks requires high power demand under a regular driving schedule. Since the high power demands produces significant heat generation within a very small packaging space, thermal management is crucial for maintaining the performance and long term durability of medium-duty trucks. This study was designed to investigate the various cooling configurations of dual stacks to understand the dual-stack response under thermal management conditions. A dynamic fuel-cell system model is developed to investigate the layout effect of the cooling system under load follow-up. Three different layouts of cooling system were investigated such as series cooling, parallel cooling, and two independent cooling modules with minimum cooling components. The results show that the series cooling system shows a minimum overshoot and undershoot by step change of the stack due to a cooling capacity. The cooling parasitic energy consumption is also minimized with the series cooling system
Sensitivity Analysis of the Complex Dynamics of an Expansion Process in Low-Pressure Compressed Air for an Electrical Energy Storage System
Authors: Leszczyński Jacek , Markowski Jan , Gryboś Dominik , Suwa Yoshihide
Published: February 2023

This study presents the research and development possibilities of an expander for compressed air energy storage systems (CAES). The computer simulations made by the authors aim to find the optimal working parameters of the piston engine. The criteria for evaluating engine operation and the objects of analysis are the compressed air engine system’s efficiency and the electrical power output. Sensitivity analysis was performed on well-suited system parameters and geometrical sizes of the energy utilisation element. Appropriate selection achieves not only higher efficiency but also allows the system to be scaled to the end-user’s needs.
Optimization of CO2 Huff-n-Puff in Unconventional Reservoirs with a Focus on Pore Confinement Effects, Fluid Types, and Completion Parameters
Authors: Khanal Aaditya , Shahriar Md Fahim
Published: February 2023

The cyclic injection of CO2, referred to as the huff-n-puff (HnP) method, is an attractive option to improve oil recovery from unconventional reservoirs. This study evaluates the optimization of the CO2 HnP method and provides insight into the aspects of CO2 sequestration for unconventional reservoirs. Furthermore, this study also examines the impact of nanopore confinement, fluid composition, injection solvent, diffusivity parameters, and fracture properties on the long-term recovery factor. The results from over 500 independent simulations showed that the optimal recovery is obtained for the puff-to-huff ratio of around 2.73 with a soak period of fewer than 2.7 days. After numerous HnP cycles, an optimized CO2 HnP process resulted in about 970-to-1067-ton CO2 storage per fracture and over 32% recovery, compared to 22% recovery for natural depletion over the 30 years. The optimized CO2 HnP process also showed higher effectiveness compared to the N2 HnP scenario. Additionally, for reservoirs with significant pore confinement (pore size ≤ 10 nm), the oil recovery improved by over 3% compared to the unconfined bulk phase properties. We also observed over 300% improvement in recovery factor for a fluid with a significant fraction of light hydrocarbons (C1–C6), compared to just a 50% improvement in recovery for a fluid with a substantial fraction of heavy hydrocarbons (C7+). Finally, the results also showed that fracture properties are much more important for CO2 HnP than natural depletion. This study provides critical insights to optimize and improve CO2 HnP operations for different fluid phases and fracture properties encountered in unconventional reservoirs.
A Bayesian Optimization-Based LSTM Model for Wind Power Forecasting in the Adama District, Ethiopia
Authors: Habtemariam Ejigu Tefera , Kekeba Kula , Martínez-Ballesteros María , Martínez-Álvarez Francisco
Published: February 2023

Renewable energies, such as solar and wind power, have become promising sources of energy to address the increase in greenhouse gases caused by the use of fossil fuels and to resolve the current energy crisis. Integrating wind energy into a large-scale electric grid presents a significant challenge due to the high intermittency and nonlinear behavior of wind power. Accurate wind power forecasting is essential for safe and efficient integration into the grid system. Many prediction models have been developed to predict the uncertain and nonlinear time series of wind power, but most neglect the use of Bayesian optimization to optimize the hyperparameters while training deep learning algorithms. The efficiency of grid search strategies decreases as the number of hyperparameters increases, and computation time complexity becomes an issue. This paper presents a robust and optimized long-short term memory network for forecasting wind power generation in the day ahead in the context of Ethiopia’s renewable energy sector. The proposal uses Bayesian optimization to find the best hyperparameter combination in a reasonable computation time. The results indicate that tuning hyperparameters using this metaheuristic prior to building deep learning models significantly improves the predictive performances of the models. The proposed models were evaluated using MAE, RMSE, and MAPE metrics, and outperformed both the baseline models and the optimized gated recurrent unit architecture.
A Survey on Load Frequency Control of Multi-Area Power Systems: Recent Challenges and Strategies
Authors: Liu Xinghua , Qiao Siwei , Liu Zhiwei
Published: February 2023

Load frequency control (LFC) is well known for balancing the load demand and frequency for a multi-area power system. Studies have proven that LFC can improve the global performance of multi-area power systems. In recent years, the increasing proportion of renewable energy, integration of EVs, and cyber-attacks have become the main challenges in LFC power systems. Different strategies have been applied in the literature for LFC power systems and the possible impacts of renewable energy, EVs, and cyber-attacks. This survey paper is devoted to the research on directions in LFC multi-area power systems. The mathematical model of recent challenges in LFC multi-area power systems is summarized and the similarities and differences of these challenges are analyzed. The uncertainty of renewable energy is a frequently noted issue in LFC power systems; however, the uncertainty that exists in controller design is often ignored. In this survey, we analyze methods for treating the uncertainty of renewable energy and controller. This survey paper introduces the most recent research on LFC and acquaints anyone interested in its development, such that the most effective strategies can be developed by the researchers.
Legacy Phosphorus in Sediments of Lowland Waterways
Authors: Koch Stefan , Rosewig Ellen Iva , Lennartz Bernd
Published: February 2023

Riverbed sediments in agricultural landscapes are loaded with phosphorus (P). They may act as a source or sink for riverine P, possibly causing harmful algae blooms and eutrophication in streams and receiving water bodies, including coastal waters. In this study, we aimed at identifying the labile, moderately labile, and stable P fraction (Hedley fractionation) in sediments of a northeastern German river basin (3000 km2). A non-metrical multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to identify the most significant environmental predictors of the P fractionation in sediments. The total P contents of the sediments varied over a wide range (698 ± 701 mg P kg−1 sediment−1), spanning from 98 to 2648 mg P kg−1 sediment−1. Adjacent agricultural reference soils had markedly lower total P contents of 354 ± 132 mg P kg−1 soil−1, ranging from 146 to 483 P kg−1 soil−1. There were almost no differences between the P contents of the top (0–2 cm) and the bottom (2–10 cm) layer. The dominant P fractions were the moderately labile (NaOH-P) and the stable (H2SO4-P) fractions, which accounted for more than 50% of the total P at each sampling point. The NMDS revealed that iron and aluminum contents, as well as land use, are significant predictors for the P fractionation of the sediment. The sediment P-composition reflects the P-status of the agriculturally used mineral soils. However, the size of the contributing catchment as well as the length of the water way have no effects on sediment P. In conclusion, sediment P stocks, though variable, may impede the good ecological status of river waters for decades, especially in lowland basins where hydraulic conditions and a very low stream velocity often create low redox and P dissolution conditions in sediments.
Simulation of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Forest Carbon Stocks in Long Time Series—Based on Remote Sensing and Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyong , Jia Weiwei , Sun Yuman , Wang Fan , Miu Yujie
Published: February 2023

Due to the complexity and difficulty of forest resource ground surveys, remote-sensing-based methods to assess forest resources and effectively plan management measures are particularly important, as they provide effective means to explore changes in forest resources over long time periods. The objective of this study was to monitor the spatiotemporal trends of the wood carbon stocks of the standing forests in the southeastern Xiaoxinganling Mountains by using Landsat remote sensing data collected between 1989 and 2021. Various remote sensing indicators for predicting carbon stocks were constructed based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. We initially used a multiple linear regression model, a deep neural network model and a convolutional neural network model for exploring the spatiotemporal trends in carbon stocks. Finally, we chose the convolutional neural network model because it provided more robust predictions on the carbon stock on a pixel-by-pixel basis and hence mapping the spatial distribution of this variable. Savitzky–Golay filter smoothing was applied to the predicted annual average carbon stock to observe the overall trend, and a spatial autocorrelation analysis was conducted. Sen’s slope and the Mann–Kendall statistical test were used to monitor the spatial trends of the carbon stocks. It was found that 59.5% of the area showed an increasing trend, while 40.5% of the area showed a decreasing trend over the past 33 years, and the future trend of carbon stock development was plotted by combining the results with the Hurst exponent.
A WRKY Transcription Factor CbWRKY27 Negatively Regulates Salt Tolerance in Catalpa bungei
Authors: Gu Jiaojiao , Lv Fenni , Gao Lulu , Jiang Shengji , Wang Qing , Li Sumei , Yang Rutong , Li Ya , Li Shaofeng , Wang Peng
Published: February 2023

Catalpa bungei is an economically important tree with high-quality wood, which is highly ornamentally valuable in China. Salinity is one of the major constraints restricting the growth of the C. bungei. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the salt stress response remains unknown in C. bungei. In our previous study, a novel WRKY transcription factor gene CbWRKY27 was isolated using association mapping based on the transcriptome database of Catalpa Yuqiu1. In this study, CbWRKY27 was found to function as a transcriptional activator in the nucleus. The transcription of CbWRKY27 was inhibited under salt stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) but was induced after abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. CbWRKY27-overexpression plants showed decreased tolerance to salt stress compared to wild type while enhancing sensitivity to ABA-regulated lateral root length. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) studies showed that the transcript levels of the ABA biosynthesis gene (NCED3), signaling genes (ABI3 and ABI5), and responsive genes (RD29B and RD22) were greatly increased in CbWRKY27-overexpression plants under salt stress. Under salt treatment, CbWRKY27-overexpression plants disturbed ROS homeostasis by repressing antioxidant enzymes and enhancing the production of O2− and H2O2 through down-regulation of ROS-scavenging-related genes (APX, SOD, and PER57). In summary, these results indicate that CbWRKY27 negatively regulates salt tolerance in C. bungei.
Dendroclimatic Analysis of Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer Species between Different Diameter Size Classes
Authors: Hirsch Andrew , Chhin Sophan , Zhang Jianwei
Published: February 2023

Climate change is expected to lead to higher temperatures in the Mediterranean region of northern California in the Sierra Nevada. Dendroclimatic studies typically focus on large, old trees, but there relatively limited understanding on how climatic sensitivity can vary with trees of different size classes. We collected tree increment cores and compared radial growth responses of small (20.32 to ≤40.64 cm), medium (40.64 to ≤60.96 cm), and large (>60.96 cm) diameter mixed conifer species in the Sierra Nevada to different climate variables (temperature, precipitation, and climate moisture index (CMI)). The most common tree species encountered were white fir (Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl.), followed by sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Dougl.), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. Ex P. & C. Laws), and incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin). One of the most coherent responses from all diameter groups and across all species was the positive response to increasing minimum winter temperatures. All diameter groups and species also responded positively to precipitation and CMI at some point in the analysis period, which is the seasonal window of April of the prior year to October of the current year of ring formation. Perhaps the most notable difference when comparing the three diameter groups to climate was the higher occurrence of negative responses to the temperature of the previous year from the largest diameter group, as well as the higher number of negative responses to temperature in general. These results suggest that larger trees may be more sensitive to future climate projections compared with smaller trees and they may carry those effects into the next year. The use of dendroclimatology to assess how mixed conifer species in the Sierra Nevada responded to past climate is a key resource that can be used to infer how trees may respond to a future changing climate.
Evaluation of Fermented Turmeric Milk by Lactic Acid Bacteria to Prevent UV-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Lu Jheng-Jhe , Cheng Meng-Chun , Khumsupan Darin , Hsieh Chen-Che , Hsieh Chang-Wei , Cheng Kuan-Chen
Published: February 2023

The nutrition enhancement of turmeric using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was studied. Among the 23 different LAB strains, Levilactobacillus brevis BCRC12247 was chosen due to its robustness. The fermentation of a turmeric drink from L. brevis significantly improved DPPH antioxidant activity (from 71.57% to 75.87%) and total reducing capacity (2.94 ± 0.03 mM Trolox/g dw) compared to the unfermented product. The fermented turmeric samples were subjected to liquid–liquid partition, producing four different fractions. An in vitro study was conducted by treating the fractions on human fibroblast cells (Hs68). The results indicated that hexane (Hex) and water residual (WA) samples could significantly attenuate UVA (15 J/cm2)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), reducing the oxidative damage from 16.99 ± 3.86 to 3.42 ± 2.53 and 3.72 ± 1.76 times, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed that Hex and WA inhibited the expression of c-jun and c-fos and lowered the mmp-1 value compared to the negative control group (by 2.72 and 2.58 times, respectively). Moreover, the expressions of Nrf2 and downstream antioxidant-related genes were significantly elevated in the Hex fraction. Therefore, fermentation using L. brevis can be an effective method to elevate the nutritional values of turmeric, protecting fibroblast cells from UVA-induced photoaging and oxidative stress.
Integrating a Blockchain-Based Governance Framework for Responsible AI
Authors: Asif Rameez , Hassan Syed Raheel , Parr Gerard
Published: February 2023

This research paper reviews the potential of smart contracts for responsible AI with a focus on frameworks, hardware, energy efficiency, and cyberattacks. Smart contracts are digital agreements that are executed by a blockchain, and they have the potential to revolutionize the way we conduct business by increasing transparency and trust. When it comes to responsible AI systems, smart contracts can play a crucial role in ensuring that the terms and conditions of the contract are fair and transparent as well as that any automated decision-making is explainable and auditable. Furthermore, the energy consumption of blockchain networks has been a matter of concern; this article explores the energy efficiency element of smart contracts. Energy efficiency in smart contracts may be enhanced by the use of techniques such as off-chain processing and sharding. The study emphasises the need for careful auditing and testing of smart contract code in order to protect against cyberattacks along with the use of secure libraries and frameworks to lessen the likelihood of smart contract vulnerabilities.
Towards an Integrated Methodology and Toolchain for Machine Learning-Based Intrusion Detection in Urban IoT Networks and Platforms
Authors: Rangelov Denis , Lämmel Philipp , Brunzel Lisa , Borgert Stephan , Darius Paul , Tcholtchev Nikolay , Boerger Michell
Published: February 2023

The constant increase in volume and wide variety of available Internet of Things (IoT) devices leads to highly diverse software and hardware stacks, which opens new avenues for exploiting previously unknown vulnerabilities. The ensuing risks are amplified by the inherent IoT resource constraints both in terms of performance and energy expenditure. At the same time, IoT devices often generate or collect sensitive, real-time data used in critical application scenarios (e.g., health monitoring, transportation, smart energy, etc.). All these factors combined make IoT networks a primary target and potential victim of malicious actors. In this paper, we presented a brief overview of existing attacks and defense strategies and used this as motivation for proposing an integrated methodology for developing protection mechanisms for smart city IoT networks. The goal of this work was to lay out a theoretical plan and a corresponding pipeline of steps, i.e., a development and implementation process, for the design and application of cybersecurity solutions for urban IoT networks. The end goal of following the proposed process is the deployment and continuous improvement of appropriate IoT security measures in real-world urban IoT infrastructures. The application of the methodology was exemplified on an OMNET++-simulated scenario, which was developed in collaboration with industrial partners and a municipality.
Design and Study of a Spindle-Shaped Fry Head-to-Tail Orientation Device
Authors: Li Jianping , Li Chen , Li Congcong , Luo Wei , Wu Kang , Zhu Songming , Ye Zhangying
Published: February 2023

The head-to-tail orientation of spindle-shaped fry is an important part of automated vaccine injection. The fry’s automatic orientation helps reduce labor and improve efficiency during the automated injection. This paper designed an electromagnetic vibration fry orientation device for grass carp fry, measured its friction characteristics with three different materials in scales and against scales, analyzed the kinematic characteristics of the fry on the electromagnetic vibration feeder, and clarified the main factors affecting fry transport. It used the trough’s inclination angle, amplitude, and material as the test factors, whereas the orientation success rate and orientation rate were used as the evaluation index. Orthogonal combination tests were carried out with 90–150 mm grass carp fry as the research object to obtain reasonable parameter combinations. The results showed that the best orientation effect was achieved when the surface of the trough was a silicone film with many bumps, the inclination of the plate spring was β = 15°, the inclination of the trough plane was θy = −4°, and the amplitude A = 0.7 mm. In this parameter combination, the directional device was tested and verified. The targeted success rate was ε = 95.5%, and the direction rate was η = 0.87 tail/s. The device could meet the requirements of the head and tails during the mechanized injection of the fry.
Two Probiotic Candidates of the Genus Psychrobacter Modulate the Immune Response and Disease Resistance after Experimental Infection in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus, Linnaeus 1758)
Authors: Wuertz Sven , Beça Filipa , Kreuz Eva , Wanka Konrad M. , Azeredo Rita , Machado Marina , Costas Benjamin
Published: February 2023

Probiotic bacteria are a recognized alternative to classical methods of disease prophylaxis and therapy. We tested the effects of their application on the immune reaction in juvenile turbot. To prevent digestion of the probiotics, rectal administration was applied to maximise colonization, by-passing digestion in the stomach. The application of Psychrobacter nivimaris and Psychrobacter faecalis showed beneficial effects on the inflammatory response and disease resistance after infection with the common pathogen Tenacibaculum maritimum. Treatment with P. nivimaris and P. faecalis resulted in 0% and 8% mortalities post-infection, while in the treatment control, an elevated mortality of 20% was observed. In the challenge controls (no infection), no mortalities were observed during the entire experimental period. After an experimental infection, mRNA expression of selected immune markers (mhc II α, il-1β, tcr, tgf β and tnf α) were determined by RT-QPCR at 0, 1 and 5 days post-infection (dpi). At 0 dpi, gene expression was comparable between the treatments and the treatment control, suggesting that probiotics did not act via immune stimulation of the host. At 1 dpi, all genes were up-regulated in the treatment control but not in the probiotic groups, indicating that the infection in probiotic-treated fish developed at a less severe level. At 5 dpi, mRNA expression returned to baseline levels. As a conclusion, the native probiotic candidates P. nivimaris and P. faecalis improved survival, whereas, in the control, mortality increased and expression of the immune markers was up-regulated post infection. This highlights a potential application of P. nivimaris and P. faecalis in disease prophylaxis, but further research is needed.
Influence of Vertically Treaded Outsoles on Interfacial Fluid Pressure, Mass Flow Rate, and Shoe–Floor Traction during Slips
Authors: Gupta Shubham , Chatterjee Subhodip , Chanda Arnab
Published: February 2023

Accidental injuries due to slips and falls are considered serious threats to public safety. Sufficient friction at the footwear and flooring interface is essential to reduce slip-related risks. The presence of slippery fluidic contaminants, such as water, further reduces friction and increases the risks of slip-related accidents drastically. While the effect of floorings and contaminants on footwear traction has been measured extensively across a variety of footwear designs, only a few studies have explored the science of the outsole design and its role in providing sufficient traction. In this work, the tread design of a commonly encountered outsole pattern, i.e., with vertically oriented tread channels, was parametrically altered across its width and gap. Based on the impressions of an original footwear design, nine outsoles were fabricated. The induced fluid pressures, mass flow rates, and traction were quantified by using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework and through slip testing experiments. Outsoles that had wide treads with small gaps decreased the overall slipping risk on dry floorings. As compared to the tread area, tread gaps were found to be a dominating parameter in providing adequate shoe–floor traction in wet slipping conditions. The methods, including the outcomes presented in this work, are anticipated to advance the understanding of the science behind footwear friction and help footwear manufacturers optimize outsole designs to reduce slip and fall risks.
Antioxidant Capacity, Nitrite and Nitrate Content in Beetroot-Based Dietary Supplements
Authors: Brzezińska-Rojek Joanna , Sagatovych Svitlana , Malinowska Paulina , Gadaj Kamila , Prokopowicz Magdalena , Grembecka Małgorzata
Published: February 2023

Due to the high content of bioactive substances, beetroot and its preserves might be a valuable constituent of a diet. Research into the antioxidant capacity and content of nitrate (III) and (V) in beetroot-based dietary supplements (DSs) worldwide is limited. The Folin–Ciocalteu method, CUPRAC, DPPH, and Griess methods were used to determine total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, nitrites, and nitrates content in fifty DSs and twenty beetroot samples. Moreover, the safety of products was evaluated because of the concentration of nitrites, nitrates, and the correctness of labelling. The research showed that a serving of fresh beetroot provides significantly more antioxidants, nitrites, and nitrates than most daily portions of DSs. Product P9 provided the highest dose of nitrates (169 mg/daily dose). However, in most cases, the consumption of DSs would be associated with a low health value. The acceptable daily intake was not exceeded in the cases of nitrites (0.0015–0.55%) and nitrates (0.056–48%), assuming that the supplementation followed the manufacturer’s recommendation. According to European and Polish regulations, 64% of the products tested did not meet all the requirements for labelling food packaging. The findings point to the need for tighter regulation of DSs, as their consumption might be dangerous.
Identification of Key Genes Affecting Flavor Formation in Beijing-You Chicken Meat by Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses
Authors: Gai Kai , Ge Yu , Liu Dapeng , Zhang He , Cong Bailin , Guo Shihao , Liu Yizheng , Xing Kai , Qi Xiaolong , Wang Xiangguo , Xiao Longfei , Long Cheng , Guo Yong , Sheng Xihui
Published: February 2023

The flavor of chicken meat is influenced by muscle metabolites and regulatory genes and varies with age. In this study, the metabolomic and transcriptomic data of breast muscle at four developmental stages (days 1, 56, 98, and 120) of Beijing-You chickens (BJYs) were integrated and 310 significantly changed metabolites (SCMs) and 7,225 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that SCMs and DEGs were enriched in amino acid, lipid, and inosine monophosphate (IMP) metabolism pathways. Furthermore, genes highly associated with flavor amino acids, lipids, and IMP were identified by a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), including cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), glycine amidinotransferase (GATM), glutamate decarboxylase 2 (GAD2), patatin-like phospholipasedomain containing 6 (PNPLA6), low-specificity L-threonine aldolase (ItaE), and adenylate monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) genes. A regulatory network related to the accumulation of key flavor components was constructed. In conclusion, this study provides new perspectives regarding the regulatory mechanisms of flavor metabolites in chicken meat during development.
Improving Agrobacterium tumefaciens−Mediated Genetic Transformation for Gene Function Studies and Mutagenesis in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: Liu Hanqiang , Zhao Jianyu , Chen Feifan , Wu Zhiming , Tan Junyi , Nguyen Nhien Hao , Cheng Zhihui , Weng Yiqun
Published: February 2023

In the post−genomics era, Agrobacterium tumefaciens−mediated genetic transformation is becoming an increasingly indispensable tool for characterization of gene functions and crop improvement in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). However, cucumber transformation efficiency is still low. In this study, we evaluated the effects of several key factors affecting the shoot−regeneration rate and overall transformation efficiency in cucumber including genotypes, the age and sources of explants, Agrobacterium strains, infection/co−cultivation conditions, and selective agents. We showed that in general, North China cucumbers exhibited higher shoot−regeneration rate than US pickling or slicing cucumbers. The subapical ground meristematic regions from cotyledons or the hypocotyl had a similar shoot−regeneration efficiency that was also affected by the age of the explants. Transformation with the Agrobacterium strain AGL1 yielded a higher frequency of positive transformants than with GV3101. The antibiotic kanamycin was effective in selection against non−transformants or chimeras. Optimization of various factors was exemplified with the development of transgenic plants overexpressing the LittleLeaf (LL) gene or RNAi of the APRR2 gene in three cucumber lines. The streamlined protocol was also tested in transgenic studies in three additional genes. The overall transformation efficiency defined by the number of verified transgenic plants out of the number of seeds across multiple experiments was 0.2–1.7%. Screening among T1 OE transgenic plants identified novel, inheritable mutants for leaf or fruit color or size/shape, suggesting T−DNA insertion as a potential source of mutagenesis. The Agrobacterium−mediated transformation protocol from this study could be used as the baseline for further improvements in cucumber transformation.
Selection and Validation of Reference Genes in Different Tissues of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Different Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Zhu Zhipeng , Yu Jianxiang , Tang Xinhui , Xiong Aisheng , Sun Miao
Published: February 2023

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is a particular vegetable with both edible and medicinal values. However, the expression pattern of the okra reference genes in response to abiotic stress has not been explored. In the present study, 18 potential reference genes were selected from okra in various tissues and abiotic stress conditions, and their expression levels were detected by Real-Time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Their expression stabilities were calculated by four algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). Under cold stress, the most stable genes included GAPC1 and CYP (leaf), CYP and ACT7 (root), HIS6 and GAPC1 (stem), and HIS6 and 60s (different tissues). Under salt stress, EF-1α and UBQ (leaf), EF-1α and UBQ (root), TUA4 and Eif (stem), and HIS6 and Eif (different tissues) were the most stable genes. Under drought stress, UBQ and Eif in the leaf, HIS6 and Eif in the root, TUA4 and HIS6 in the stem, and UBQ and Eif in different tissues were most stably expressed in okra. In addition, complete sequencing results by RefFinder showed that HIS6 and ACT7 in the leaf, HIS6 and Eif in the root, UBC5B and 60s in the stem, and HIS6 and Eif in different tissues, were most the suitable reference genes for okra. Furthermore, AeMYB1R1 transcription factor was used to verify the reliability of RT-qPCR values. In summary, this study was carried out to demonstrate the potential reference genes of okra under abiotic stress, aiming to provide a molecular basis for functional gene analysis and regulatory mechanism research of okra.
SCP4ssd: A Serverless Platform for Nucleotide Sequence Synthesis Difficulty Prediction Using an AutoML Model
Authors: Zhang Jianqi , Ren Shuai , Shi Zhenkui , Wang Ruoyu , Li Haoran , Tian Huijuan , Feng Miao , Liao Xiaoping , Ma Hongwu
Published: February 2023

DNA synthesis is widely used in synthetic biology to construct and assemble sequences ranging from short RBS to ultra-long synthetic genomes. Many sequence features, such as the GC content and repeat sequences, are known to affect the synthesis difficulty and subsequently the synthesis cost. In addition, there are latent sequence features, especially local characteristics of the sequence, which might affect the DNA synthesis process as well. Reliable prediction of the synthesis difficulty for a given sequence is important for reducing the cost, but this remains a challenge. In this study, we propose a new automated machine learning (AutoML) approach to predict the DNA synthesis difficulty, which achieves an F1 score of 0.930 and outperforms the current state-of-the-art model. We found local sequence features that were neglected in previous methods, which might also affect the difficulty of DNA synthesis. Moreover, experimental validation based on ten genes of Escherichia coli strain MG1655 shows that our model can achieve an 80% accuracy, which is also better than the state of art. Moreover, we developed the cloud platform SCP4SSD using an entirely cloud-based serverless architecture for the convenience of the end users.
Nanopore-Based Direct RNA Sequencing of the Trypanosoma brucei Transcriptome Identifies Novel lncRNAs
Authors: Kruse Elisabeth , Göringer H. Ulrich
Published: February 2023

Trypanosomatids are single-cell eukaryotic parasites. Unlike higher eukaryotes, they control gene expression post-transcriptionally and not at the level of transcription initiation. This involves all known cellular RNA circuits, from mRNA processing to mRNA decay, to translation, in addition to a large panel of RNA-interacting proteins that modulate mRNA abundance. However, other forms of gene regulation, for example by lncRNAs, cannot be excluded. LncRNAs are poorly studied in trypanosomatids, with only a single lncRNA characterized to date. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the complete inventory of trypanosomatid lncRNAs is known, because of the inherent cDNA-recoding and DNA-amplification limitations of short-read RNA sequencing. Here, we overcome these limitations by using long-read direct RNA sequencing (DRS) on nanopore arrays. We analyze the native RNA pool of the two main lifecycle stages of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, with a special emphasis on the inventory of lncRNAs. We identify 207 previously unknown lncRNAs, 32 of which are stage-specifically expressed. We also present insights into the complexity of the T. brucei transcriptome, including alternative transcriptional start and stop sites and potential transcript isoforms, to provide a bias-free understanding of the intricate RNA landscape in T. brucei.
Identification and Characterization of Phytocyanin Family Genes in Cotton Genomes
Authors: Bilal Tufail Muhammad , Yasir Muhammad , Zuo Dongyun , Cheng Hailiang , Ali Mushtaque , Hafeez Abdul , Soomro Mahtab , Song Guoli
Published: February 2023

Phytocyanins (PCs) are a class of plant-specific blue copper proteins that have been demonstrated to play a role in electron transport and plant development. Through analysis of the copper ligand residues, spectroscopic properties, and domain architecture of the protein, PCs have been grouped into four subfamilies: uclacyanins (UCs), stellacyanins (SCs), plantacyanins (PLCs), and early nodulin-like proteins (ENODLs). The present study aimed to identify and characterise the PCs present in three distinct cotton species (Gossypium hirsutum, Gossyium arboreum, and Gossypium raimondii) through the identification of 98, 63, and 69 genes respectively. We grouped PCs into four clades by using bioinformatics analysis and sequence alignment, which exhibit variations in gene structure and motif distribution. PCs are distributed across all chromosomes in each of the three species, with varying numbers of exons per gene and multiple conserved motifs, and with a minimum of 1 and maximum of 11 exons found on one gene. Transcriptomic data and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that two highly differentiated PC genes were expressed at the fibre initiation stage, while three highly differentiated PCs were expressed at the fibre elongation stage. These findings serve as a foundation for further investigations aimed at understanding the contribution of this gene family in cotton fibre production.
Health Literacy among Japanese College Students: Association with Healthy Lifestyle and Subjective Health Status
Authors: Yokoyama Hisayo , Imai Daiki , Suzuki Yuta , Ogita Akira , Watanabe Hitoshi , Kawabata Haruka , Miyake Takaaki , Yoshii Izumi , Tsubouchi Shinji , Matsuura Yoshimasa , Okazaki Kazunobu
Published: February 2023

The improvement of health literacy (HL) is a critical issue for college students who are in the transitional period to adulthood and are establishing their subsequent lifestyles. The present study aimed to evaluate the current state of HL among college students and to explore the factors that influence HL. Moreover, it investigated the relationship between HL and health conditions. For this study, the researchers conducted an online survey of college students. The questionnaire consisted of the Japanese version of the 47-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47), which is a self-assessment tool for HL that covers the major health issues of college students and health-related quality of life. The study analyzed 1049 valid responses. Based on the HLS-EU-Q47 total score, 85% of the participants exhibited problematic or unsatisfactory HL levels. Participants who reported high levels of healthy lifestyles obtained high HL scores. High levels of HL were associated with high levels of subjective health. Results from quantitative text analysis suggested that specific mindsets were correlated with high levels of competency in appraising health information among male students. In the future, educational intervention programs for college students need to be established to improve HL levels.
Prevalence and Determinants of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms among Transgender People: Results of a Survey
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans-Helmut , Buczak-Stec Elzbieta , Blessmann Marco , Grupp Katharina
Published: February 2023

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of probable depression and probable anxiety and to investigate the determinants of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms among transgender people. Methods: In this “Transgender Survey” (n = 104) we included transgender people who had joined self-help groups to obtain and share information about the gender-affirming surgeries performed at the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Data collection took place between April and October 2022. To measure probable depression, the patient health questionnaire-9 was used. The generalized anxiety disorder-7 was used to quantify probable anxiety. Results: The prevalence of probable depression was 33.3% and it was 29.6% for probable anxiety. Multiple linear regressions showed that both more depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with younger age (β = −0.16, p < 0.01; β = −0.14, p < 0.01), being unemployed (e.g., full-time employed compared to unemployment: β = −3.05, p < 0.05; β = −2.69, p < 0.05), worse self-rated health (β = −3.31, p < 0.001; β = −1.88, p < 0.05), and having at least one chronic disease (β = 3.71, p < 0.01; β = 2.61, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Remarkably high prevalence rates were identified among transgender people. Furthermore, risk factors of poor mental health (e.g., unemployment or younger age) were identified—which can help to address transgender people at risk for poor mental health.
Compassion Fatigue and Perceived Social Support among Polish Nurses
Authors: Pergol-Metko Paulina , Staniszewska Anna , Metko Sebastian , Sienkiewicz Zofia , Czyzewski Lukasz
Published: February 2023

Background: Social support has a vital role in preventing traumatic stress in nurses. Nurses are regularly exposed to contact with violence, suffering, and death. The situation worsened during the pandemic because they were also faced with the possibility of infection SARS-CoV-2 and death from COVID-19. Many nurses are faced with increased pressure, stress, and other adverse effects on their mental health. The study aimed to measure the relationship between compassion fatigue and perceived social support in polish nurses. Methods: The study was conducted on 862 professionally active nurses in Poland using the CAWI method (Computer-Assisted Web Interview). The professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOL) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used for collecting the data. StatSoft, Inc. (2014) was used for data analysis. For comparisons between the groups: Mann–Whitney U test, ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis test, and multiple comparisons (post-hoc). The relationships between variables were tested using Spearman’s rho, Tau Kendall, and the chi-square test. Results: The research showed the presence of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout in the group of Polish hospital nurses. A higher level of perceived social support was associated with lower compassion fatigue (r = −0.35; p < 0.001). A higher level of social support was associated with higher job satisfaction (r = 0.40; p < 0.001). The study also found that a higher level of social support was associated with a lower risk of burnout (r = −0.41; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Preventing compassion fatigue and burnout should be a priority for healthcare managers. Notably, an essential predictor of compassion fatigue is that Polish nurses often work overtime. It is necessary to pay more attention to the crucial role of social support in preventing compassion fatigue and burnout.
Effect of Spatiotemporal Parameters on the Gait of Children Aged from 6 to 12 Years in Podiatric Tests: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Martinez-Rico Magdalena , Ortega-Avila Ana Belen , Pineda-Galan Consolacion , Gijon-Nogueron Gabriel , Pardo Rios Manuel , Alabua-Dasi Raquel , Marchena-Rodriguez Ana
Published: February 2023

The use of lower limb tests in the paediatric population is of great importance for diagnostic evaluations. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the tests performed on the feet and ankles, covering all of its planes, and the spatiotemporal parameters of children’s gait. Methods: It is a cross-sectional observational study. Children aged between 6 and 12 years participated. Measurements were carried out in 2022. An analysis of three tests used to assess the feet and ankles (FPI, the ankle lunge test, and the lunge test), as well as a kinematic analysis of gait using OptoGait as a measurement tool, was performed. Results: The spatiotemporal parameters show how Jack’s Test is significant in the propulsion phase in its % parameter, with a p-value of 0.05 and a mean difference of 0.67%. Additionally, in the lunge test, we studied the % of midstance in the left foot, with a mean difference between the positive test and the 10 cm test of 10.76 (p value of 0.04). Conclusions: The diagnostic analysis of the functional limitation of the first toe (Jack’s test) is correlated with the spaciotemporal parameter of propulsion, as well as the lunge test, which is also correlated with the midstance phase of gait.
Strategies of Predictive Schemes and Clinical Diagnosis for Prognosis Using MIMIC-III: A Systematic Review
Authors: Khope Sarika R. , Elias Susan
Published: February 2023

The prime purpose of the proposed study is to construct a novel predictive scheme for assisting in the prognosis of criticality using the MIMIC-III dataset. With the adoption of various analytics and advanced computing in the healthcare system, there is an increasing trend toward developing an effective prognostication mechanism. Predictive-based modeling is the best alternative to work in this direction. This paper discusses various scientific contributions using desk research methodology towards the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III). This open-access dataset is meant to help predict patient trajectories for various purposes ranging from mortality forecasting to treatment planning. With a dominant machine learning approach in this perspective, there is a need to discover the effectiveness of existing predictive methods. The resultant outcome of this paper offers an inclusive discussion about various available predictive schemes and clinical diagnoses using MIMIC-III in order to contribute toward better information associated with its strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the paper provides a clear visualization of existing schemes for clinical diagnosis using a systematic review approach.
Chronic Insomnia Disorder across Europe: Expert Opinion on Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Care
Authors: Ellis Jason , Ferini-Strambi Luigi , García-Borreguero Diego , Heidbreder Anna , O’Regan David , Parrino Liborio , Selsick Hugh , Penzel Thomas
Published: February 2023

One in ten adults in Europe have chronic insomnia, which is characterised by frequent and persistent difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep and daily functioning impairments. Regional differences in practices and access to healthcare services lead to variable clinical care across Europe. Typically, a patient with chronic insomnia (a) will usually present to a primary care physician; (b) will not be offered cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia—the recommended first-line treatment; (c) will instead receive sleep hygiene recommendations and eventually pharmacotherapy to manage their long-term condition; and (d) will use medications such as GABA receptor agonists for longer than the approved duration. Available evidence suggests that patients in Europe have multiple unmet needs, and actions for clearer diagnosis of chronic insomnia and effective management of this condition are long overdue. In this article, we provide an update on the clinical management of chronic insomnia in Europe. Old and new treatments are summarised with information on indications, contraindications, precautions, warnings, and side effects. Challenges of treating chronic insomnia in European healthcare systems, considering patients’ perspectives and preferences are presented and discussed. Finally, suggestions are provided—with healthcare providers and healthcare policy makers in mind—for strategies to achieve the optimal clinical management.
An Extended Technology Adoption Model with Perceived Visual Attractiveness to Assess Academic Web Portals
Authors: Garcia II Jose Maria S. , Himang Melanie M. , Himang Celbert M. , Densing Gerry Ritz R. , Alit Marie Joy B. , Burgos Noel P. , Bongo Miriam F. , Ocampo Lanndon A.
Published: February 2023

The educational system in the Philippines has been slowly progressing in terms of its technological infrastructures, such as web portals. Such a pattern in web portal development prompts stakeholders to carefully consider the adoption constructs, in order for limited and scarce resources to be wisely allocated. Therefore, this paper intends to assess an academic web portal by extending the classical technology acceptance model (TAM) framework with the addition of perceived visual attractiveness. A case study in a state university in Cebu, Philippines, in which 418 undergraduate students participated, was performed to explore relationships among constructs. Using structural equation modeling, the results indicated that perceived attractiveness poses a significant influence on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, which thereby significantly impacts perceived attitude and behavioral intention. Such results can aid stakeholders in managing resources in the development of academic web portals by focusing on important constructs such as perceived visual attractiveness.