bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Spatiotemporal Characteristic and Mechanism of Forest Loss in Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River
Authors: Zhu Zheng , Zhu Xiang
Published: September 2021

Under the backdrop of achieving carbon neutrality and accelerating urbanization, China’s forests face unprecedented pressures. This study explored the spatiotemporal characteristics of forest loss in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR). The dynamic mechanism of forest loss caused by fire, logging, construction, and pollution was also analyzed using spatial database development, polygon superposition analysis, grid system construction, and coordinate system calculation. The results show that the forest loss in the UAMRYR experienced three stages: continuous acceleration (1990–2010), peak (2010–2015), and slight decline (2015–2020). Rapid urban expansion is the primary cause of forest loss, and the three metropolitan areas had the fastest urban expansion and the most severe forest loss. Due to the success of afforestation efforts, the forest loss caused by fire, logging, and pollution was restored by 80%, while most of the forest losses caused by construction are permanent. Given the current forest loss trends, large expanses of forests in the UAMRYR are at risk of being destroyed and causing serious damage to the region’s ecological environment. Forest losses can be significantly reduced by guiding the rational expansion of cities, supporting afforestation for urban construction projects, strengthening forest fire risk investigation, and implementing ecological reconstruction of polluted areas.
Sample-Based Estimation of Tree Cover Change in Haiti Using Aerial Photography: Substantial Increase in Tree Cover between 2002 and 2010
Authors: Rodrigues-Eklund Gabriela , Hansen Matthew C. , Tyukavina Alexandra , Stehman Stephen V. , Hubacek Klaus , Baiocchi Giovanni
Published: September 2021

Recent studies have used high resolution imagery to estimate tree cover and changes in natural forest cover in Haiti. However, there is still no rigorous quantification of tree cover change accounting for planted or managed trees, which are very important in Haiti’s farming systems. We estimated net tree cover change, gross loss, and gross gain in Haiti between 2002 and 2010 from a stratified random sample of 400 pixels with a systematic sub-sample of 25 points. Using 30 cm and 1 m resolution images, we classified land cover at each point, with any point touching a woody plant higher than 5 m classified as tree crown. We found a net increase in tree crown cover equivalent to 5.0 ± 2.3% (95% confidence interval) of Haiti’s land area. Gross gains and losses amounted to 9.0 ± 2.1% and 4.0 ± 1.3% of the territory, respectively. These results challenge, for the first time with empirical evidence, the predominant narrative that portrays Haiti as experiencing ongoing forest or tree cover loss. The net gain in tree cover quantified here represents a 35% increase from 2002 to 2010. Further research is needed to determine the drivers of this substantial net gain in tree cover at the national scale.
Evaluating the Capability of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Imagery to Detect and Measure the Effects of Edge Influence on Forest Canopy Cover in New England
Authors: Grybas Heather , Congalton Russell G.
Published: September 2021

Characterizing and measuring the extent of change at forest edges is important for making management decisions, especially in the face of climate change, but is difficult due to the large number of factors that can modify the response. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) imagery may serve as a tool to detect and measure the forest response at the edge quickly and repeatedly, thus allowing a larger amount of area to be covered with less work. This study is a preliminary attempt to utilize UAS imagery to detect changes in canopy cover, known to exhibit changes due to edge influences, across forest edges in a New England forest. Changes in canopy cover with increasing distance from the forest edge were measured on the ground using digital cover photography and from photogrammetric point clouds and imagery-based maps of canopy gaps produced with UAS imagery. The imagery-based canopy gap products were significantly more similar to ground estimates for canopy cover (p value > 0.05) than the photogrammetric point clouds, but still suffered overestimation (RMSE of 0.088) due to the inability to detect small canopy openings. Both the ground and UAS data were able to detect a decrease in canopy cover to between 45–50 m from the edge, followed by an increase to 100 m. The UAS data had the advantage of a greater sampling intensity and was thus better able to detect a significant edge effect of minimal magnitude effect in the presence of heavy variability.
Coupled Delft3D-Object Model to Predict Mobility of Munition on Sandy Seafloor
Authors: Chu Peter C. , Pessanha Vinicius S. , Fan Chenwu , Calantoni Joseph
Published: September 2021

The coupled Delft3D-object model has been developed to predict the mobility and burial of objects on sandy seafloors. The Delft3D model is used to predict seabed environmental factors such as currents, waves (peak wave period, significant wave height, wave direction), water level, sediment transport, and seabed change, which are taken as the forcing term to the object model consisting of three components: (a) physical parameters such as diameter, length, mass, and rolling moment; (b) dynamics of the rolling cylinder around its major axis; (c) an empirical sediment scour model with re-exposure parameterization. The model is compared with the observational data collected from a field experiment from 21 April to 13 May 2013 off the coast of Panama City, Florida. The experimental data contain both object mobility using sector scanning sonars and maintenance divers as well as simultaneous environmental time series data of the boundary layer hydrodynamics and sediment transport conditions. Comparison between modeled and observed data clearly shows the model’s capabilities and limitations.
Emerging Non-Thermal Technologies as Alternative to SO2 for the Production of Wine
Authors: Silva Filipa V. M. , van Wyk Sanelle
Published: September 2021

SO2 is an antioxidant and selective antimicrobial additive, inhibiting the growth of molds in the must during the early stages of wine production, as well as undesirable bacteria and yeasts during fermentation, thus avoiding microbial spoilage during wine production and storage. The addition of SO2 is regulated to a maximum of 150–350 ppm, as this chemical preservative can cause adverse effects in consumers such as allergic reactions. Therefore, the wine industry is interested in finding alternative strategies to reduce SO2 levels, while maintaining wine quality. The use of non-thermal or cold pasteurization technologies for wine preservation was reviewed. The effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF), high pressure processing (HPP), power ultrasound (US), ultraviolet irradiation (UV), high pressure homogenization (HPH), filtration and low electric current (LEC) on wine quality and microbial inactivation was explored and the technologies were compared. PEF and HPP proved to be effective wine pasteurization technologies as they inactivate key wine spoilage yeasts, including Brettanomyces, and bacteria in short periods of time, while retaining the characteristic flavor and aroma of the wine produced. PEF is a promising technology for the beverage industry as it is a continuous process, requiring only microseconds of processing time for the inactivation of undesirable microbes in wines, with commercial scale, higher throughput production potential.
Avian Eggshell Membrane as a Novel Biomaterial: A Review
Authors: Shi Yaning , Zhou Kai , Li Dandan , Guyonnet Vincent , Hincke Maxwell T. , Mine Yoshinori
Published: September 2021

The eggshell membrane (ESM), mainly composed of collagen-like proteins, is readily available as a waste product of the egg industry. As a novel biomaterial, ESM is attractive for its applications in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields. This review provides the main information about the structure and chemical composition of the ESM as well as some approaches for its isolation and solubilization. In addition, the review focuses on the role and performance of bioactive ESM-derived products in various applications, while a detailed literature survey is provided. The evaluation of the safety of ESM is also summarized. Finally, new perspectives regarding the potential of ESM as a novel biomaterial in various engineering fields are discussed. This review provides promising future directions for comprehensive application of ESM.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Accumulation of Anthocyanins Revealed the Underlying Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms of Purple Pod Coloration in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)
Authors: Zhang Yanjie , Zhang Tianjiao , Zhao Qing , Xie Xiaodong , Li Yan , Chen Qiyan , Cheng Fang , Tian Jianwei , Gu Huihui , Huang Jinyong
Published: September 2021

Color is an essential agronomic trait and the consumption of high anthocyanin containing vegetables in daily diet does provide benefits to human health, but the mechanisms on anthocyanin accumulation in tender pods of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) were totally unknown. In this study, a wide characterization and quantitation of anthocyanins and flavonols in tender pods of 15 okra varieties were performed by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS for the first time. Two major anthocyanins (delphinidin 3-O-sambubioside and cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside) and six kinds of flavonol glycosides (most are quercetin-based) were identified and quantified. The coloration of the purple okra pod mainly arises from the accumulation of both delphinidin 3-O-sambubioside and cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside in most of purple varieties (Hong Yu, Bowling Red and Burgundy), except Jing Orange. The significant differences in the compositions and contents of anthocyanins are responsible for the pod color ranging from brick-red to purplish-red among the various okra cultivars. Furthermore, four representative okra cultivars exhibiting obvious differences in anthocyanin accumulation were further analyzed with transcriptome and more than 4000 conserved differentially expressed genes were identified across the three compared groups (B vs. BR, B vs. HY and B vs. JO). Based on the comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic data, it was indicated that MBW complex consisting of AeMYB114, AeTT8, and AeTTG1 and other transcriptional factors coordinately regulate the accumulation of anthocyanins via the transcriptional regulation of structural genes. Moreover, four independent working models explaining the diversities of anthocyanin pigmentation in okra pods were also proposed. Altogether, these results improved our understanding on anthocyanin accumulation in okra pods, and provided strong supports for the development of okra pod as a functional food in the future.
Functionality and Applicability of Starch-Based Films: An Eco-Friendly Approach
Authors: Bangar Sneh Punia , Purewal Sukhvinder Singh , Trif Monica , Maqsood Sajid , Kumar Manoj , Manjunatha Vishal , Rusu Alexandru Vasile
Published: September 2021

The accumulation of high amounts of petro-based plastics is a growing environmental devastation issue, leading to the urgent need to innovate eco-safe packaging materials at an equivalent cost to save the environment. Among different substitutes, starch-based types and their blends with biopolymers are considered an innovative and smart material alternative for petrol-based polymers because of their abundance, low cost, biodegradability, high biocompatibility, and better-quality film-forming and improved mechanical characteristics. Furthermore, starch is a valuable, sustainable food packaging material. The rising and growing importance of designing starch-based films from various sources for sustainable food packaging purposes is ongoing research. Research on “starch food packaging” is still at the beginning, based on the few studies published in the last decade in Web of Science. Additionally, the functionality of starch-based biodegradable substances is technically a challenge. It can be improved by starch modification, blending starch with other biopolymers or additives, and using novel preparation techniques. Starch-based films have been applied to packaging various foods, such as fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, and meat, indicating good prospects for commercial utilization. The current review will give a critical snapshot of starch-based films’ properties and potential applicability in the sustainable smart (active and intelligent) new packaging concepts and discuss new challenges and opportunities for starch bio composites.
Values and Preferences Related to Cancer Risk among Red and Processed Meat Eaters: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study with Semi-Structured Interviews
Authors: Howatt Victoria , Prokop-Dorner Anna , Valli Claudia , Zajac Joanna , Bala Malgorzata M. , Alonso-Coello Pablo , Guyatt Gordon H. , Johnston Bradley C.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Over the last decade, the possible impact of meat intake on overall cancer incidence and mortality has received considerable attention, and authorities have recommended decreasing consumption; however, the benefits of reducing meat consumption are small and uncertain. As such, individual decisions to reduce consumption are value- and preference-sensitive. Consequently, we undertook a pilot cross-sectional study to explore people’s values and preferences towards meat consumption in the face of cancer risk. Methods and analysis: The mixed-method pilot study included a quantitative questionnaire followed by qualitative evaluation to explore the dietary habits of 32 meat eaters, their reasons for eating meat, and willingness to change their meat consumption when faced with a potential risk reduction of cancer over a lifetime based on a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis. We recruited a convenience sample of participants from two Canadian provinces: Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. This project was approved by the Research Ethics Board for Health Sciences research at Dalhousie University, Canada. Results: The average weekly consumption of red meat was 3.4 servings and the average weekly consumption of processed meat was 3 servings. The determinants that influenced meat intake were similar for both red and processed meat. Taste, cost, and family preferences were the three most commonly cited factors impacting red meat intake. Taste, cost, and (lack of) cooking time were the three most commonly cited factors impacting processed meat intake. None of the participants were willing to eliminate red or processed meat from their diet. About half of participants were willing to potentially reduce their meat consumption, with one third definitely willing to reduce their consumption. Strengths and limitations: This study is the first that we are aware of to share data with participants on the association of red meat and processed meat consumption and the risk of cancer mortality and cancer incidence, including the certainty of evidence for the risk reduction. The limitations of this study include its small sample size and its limited geographic sampling. Conclusions: When presented explicit information about the small uncertain cancer risk associated with red and processed meat consumption, study participants were unwilling to eliminate meat, while about one-third were willing to reduce their meat intake.
Research Advances of d-allulose: An Overview of Physiological Functions, Enzymatic Biotransformation Technologies, and Production Processes
Authors: Xia Yu , Cheng Qianqian , Mu Wanmeng , Hu Xiuyu , Sun Zhen , Qiu Yangyu , Liu Ximing , Wang Zhouping
Published: September 2021

d-allulose has a significant application value as a sugar substitute, not only as a food ingredient and dietary supplement, but also with various physiological functions, such as improving insulin resistance, anti-obesity, and regulating glucolipid metabolism. Over the decades, the physiological functions of d-allulose and the corresponding mechanisms have been studied deeply, and this product has been applied to various foods to enhance food quality and prolong shelf life. In recent years, biotransformation technologies for the production of d-allulose using enzymatic approaches have gained more attention. However, there are few comprehensive reviews on this topic. This review focuses on the recent research advances of d-allulose, including (1) the physiological functions of d-allulose; (2) the major enzyme families used for the biotransformation of d-allulose and their microbial origins; (3) phylogenetic and structural characterization of d-allulose 3-epimerases, and the directed evolution methods for the enzymes; (4) heterologous expression of d-allulose ketose 3-epimerases and biotransformation techniques for d-allulose; and (5) production processes for biotransformation of d-allulose based on the characterized enzymes. Furthermore, the future trends on biosynthesis and applications of d-allulose in food and health industries are discussed and evaluated in this review.
Effects of Various Pre-Treatment and Cooking on the Levels of Biogenic Amines in Korean and Norwegian Mackerel
Authors: Kim Yang-Su , Kim Yuri , Park Hyunbeen , Park Jooyeon , Lee Kwang-Geun
Published: September 2021

This study analyses the biogenic amines (BAs) formed in mackerel cooked by various methods and conditions. Five BAs, including tryptamine, β-phenylethylamine, putrescine, histamine, and spermidine, were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The level of total BAs was higher in the mackerel fillet (108.14 µg/g) than the headed and gutted fish (91.58 µg/g). Roasted, fried, and stewed mackerel recorded total BA concentrations of 54.28, 82.25, and 163.05 µg/g, respectively. Stewed mackerel contained about 3-fold more BAs than roasted mackerel. The level of total BAs in mackerel increased significantly up to 190%, 236% and 152% as the roasting temperature increased, upon frying, and as stewing temperature increased, respectively (p < 0.05).
Evaluation of Oxidative Stability of Full Fat Soybean Flour in Storage and Sensory Quality of Tuo Zaafi-Enriched with Soy Flour as Influenced by Traditional Processing Methods
Authors: Gulkirpik Ece , Toc Marco , Atuna Richard A. , Amagloh Francis K. , Andrade Laborde Juan E.
Published: September 2021

The oxidative stability of pretreated full-fat soybean flour (FFSF) was evaluated under commercial (Experiment I) and accelerated conditions (Experiment II). In Experiment I, soybeans were pretreated using germination, soaking (24 h), or roasting (110–120 °C), and the dried, milled FFSF was stored for 120 days under commercial storage conditions in two cities in Ghana. Acid value (AV) and peroxide value (PV) were determined. The proximate and sensory quality of Tuo Zaafi, a maize-only dish in northern Ghana enriched with 10–30% of the pretreated FFSF, was assessed. Before storage, all samples had similar PV (1.907–4.305 mEq/kg oil); however, the AV of the germinated sample was higher than that of the unprocessed samples (10.83 vs. 3.13 mgKOH/g oil; p < 0.001). After storage, although AV fluctuated, the PV was similar (2.39–3.74 mEq/kg oil; p = 1.00). Storage location showed no significant differences in terms of AV (4.96–4.97 mgKOH/g oil; p = 0.994), unlike PV (2.07–3.55 mEq/kg oil; p < 0.001). Increasing the levels of the pretreated FFSF in Tuo Zaafi resulted in lower consumer preference scores for all sensory attributes. In Experiment II, FFSF samples (dehulled and nondehulled) prepared from germination, soaking (18 h and 24 h) and roasting were evaluated under accelerated conditions (AC) of controlled temperature (45 ± 0.1 °C) and relative humidity (81 ± 1%) for AV, PV, p-anisidine value (pAV), lipoxygenase activity (LOX), color, and moisture. Pretreatment, condition, time, and their interaction affected the oxidative stability of all FFSF samples (p < 0.001). Roasted samples showed the highest increase in AV and pAV in both storage conditions (p < 0.05). Under room temperature conditions (RTC), the roasted and germinated samples had lower LOX activity (p < 0.05) at the end of storage time compared to that of the controls. In conclusion, germination and soaking reduced oxidation of FFSF, while roasting promotes it, despite its common use.
The Development of Prosociality: Evidence for a Negative Association between Age and Prosocial Value Orientation from a Representative Sample in Austria
Authors: Ehlert Alexander , Böhm Robert , Fleiß Jürgen , Rauhut Heiko , Rybnicek Robert , Winter Fabian
Published: September 2021

While the ontogeny of prosociality during infancy, childhood, and adolescence has received substantial attention over the last decades, little is known about how prosocial preferences develop beyond emerging adulthood. Recent evidence suggests that the previously observed positive association between age and prosocial preferences is less robust than assumed. This study reports results on the association between social preferences, age, gender, and education from an Austrian representative sample (N = 777, aged 16–94 years) in which incentivized social value orientations (SVO) were measured along with various other sociodemographic characteristics. The analyses confirm that men are less prosocial than women, however, mainly during emerging adulthood (16–25 years). At the same time, the decline of prosociality is stronger among women leading to a convergence of prosociality between men and women as they age. Overall, we find that a prosocial value orientation is negatively correlated with people’s age. We suspect that the susceptibility of peoples’ social preferences to the preferences of others in their social environment is a critical factor unifying these different observations in the development of prosociality. We hypothesize that the opposite associations between age and SVO observed in two previous studies using unincentivized measures of social preferences are explained in parts by an age-related change in social desirability, measurement inaccuracy (continuous vs. categorical), and cross-cultural differences promoting competitive preferences among emerging adults in Japan. Moreover, we find that political orientations towards right-wing populists are consistently associated with less prosocial preferences, while education seems to be positively associated with prosociality. Overall, our study highlights the importance of conducting representative studies using incentivized measurements across cultures.
Phase-Space Correlations among Systems of Satellite Galaxies
Authors: Pawlowski Marcel S.
Published: September 2021

Driven by the increasingly complete observational knowledge of systems of satellite galaxies, mutual spatial alignments and relations in velocities among satellites belonging to a common host have become a productive field of research. Numerous studies have investigated different types of such phase-space correlations and were met with varying degrees of attention by the community. The Planes of Satellite Galaxies issue is maybe the best-known example, with a rich field of research literature and an ongoing, controversial debate on how much of a challenge it poses to the ΛCDM model of cosmology. Another type of correlation, the apparent excess of close pairs of dwarf galaxies, has received considerably less attention despite its reported tension with ΛCDM expectations. With the fast expansion of proper motion measurements in recent years, largely driven by the Gaia mission, other peculiar phase-space correlations have been uncovered among the satellites of the Milky Way. Examples are the apparent tangential velocity excess of satellites compared to cosmological expectations, and the unexpected preference of satellites to be close to their pericenters. At the same time, other kinds of correlations have been found to be more in line with cosmological expectations—specifically, lopsided satellite galaxy systems and the accretion of groups of satellite galaxies. The latter has mostly been studied in cosmological simulations thus far, but it offers the potential to address some of the other issues by providing a way to produce correlations among the orbits of a group’s satellite galaxy members. This review is the first to provide an introduction to the highly active field of phase-space correlations among satellite galaxy systems. The emphasis is on summarizing existing, recent research and highlighting interdependencies between the different, currently almost exclusively individually considered types of correlations. Future prospects in light of upcoming observational facilities and our ever-expanding knowledge of satellite galaxy systems beyond the Local Group are also briefly discussed.
Simulations of Neutrino and Gamma-Ray Production from Relativistic Black-Hole Microquasar Jets
Authors: Papavasileiou Theodora , Kosmas Odysseas , Sinatkas Ioannis
Published: September 2021

Recently, microquasar jets have aroused the interest of many researchers focusing on the astrophysical plasma outflows and various jet ejections. In this work, we concentrate on the investigation of electromagnetic radiation and particle emissions from the jets of stellar black hole binary systems characterized by the hadronic content in their jets. Such emissions are reliably described within the context of relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics. Our model calculations are based on the Fermi acceleration mechanism through which the primary particles (mainly protons and electrons) of the jet are accelerated. As a result, a small portion of thermal protons of the jet acquire relativistic energies, through shock-waves generated into the jet plasma. From the inelastic collisions of fast (non-thermal) protons with the thermal (cold) ones, secondary charged and neutral particles (pions, kaons, muons, η-particles, etc.) are created, as well as electromagnetic radiation from the radio wavelength band to X-rays and even very high energy gamma-rays. One of our main goals is, through the appropriate solution of the transport equation and taking into account the various mechanisms that cause energy losses to the particles, to study the secondary particle concentrations within hadronic astrophysical jets. After assessing the suitability and sensitivity of the derived (for this purpose) algorithms on the Galactic MQs SS 433 and Cyg X-1, as a concrete extragalactic binary system, we examine the LMC X-1 located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way Galaxy. It is worth mentioning that, for the companion O star (and its extended nebula structure) of the LMC X-1 system, new observations using spectroscopic data from VLT/UVES have been published a few years ago.
Chemically Crosslinked Methylcellulose Substrates for Cell Sheet Engineering
Authors: Bonetti Lorenzo , De Nardo Luigi , Farè Silvia
Published: September 2021

Methylcellulose (MC) hydrogels have been successfully proposed in the field of cell sheet engineering (CSE), allowing cell detachment from their surface by lowering the temperature below their transition temperature (Tt). Among the main limitations of pristine MC hydrogels, low physical stability and mechanical performances limit the breadth of their potential applications. In this study, a crosslinking strategy based on citric acid (CA) was used to prepare thermoresponsive MC hydrogels, with different degrees of crosslinking, to exploit their possible use as substrates in CSE. The investigated amounts of CA did not cause any cytotoxic effect while improving the mechanical performance of the hydrogels (+11-fold increase in E, compared to control MC). The possibility to obtain cell sheets (CSs) was then demonstrated using murine fibroblast cell line (L929 cells). Cells adhered on crosslinked MC hydrogels’ surface in standard culture conditions and then were harvested at selected time points as single CSs. CS detachment was achieved simply by lowering the external temperature below the Tt of MC. The detached CSs displayed adhesive and proliferative activity when transferred to new plastic culture surfaces, indicating a high potential for regenerative purposes.
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Flavour Profiling
Authors: Zhou Ziwei , Ford Rebecca , Bar Ido , Kanchana-udomkan Chutchamas
Published: September 2021

A major challenge to the papaya industry is inconsistency in fruit quality and, in particular, flavour, which is a complex trait that comprises taste perception in the mouth (sweetness, acidity, or bitterness) and aroma produced by several volatile compounds. Current commercial varieties vary greatly in their taste, likely due to historical prioritised selection for fruit appearance as well as large environmental effects. Therefore, it is important to better understand the genetic and biochemical mechanisms and biosynthesis pathways underpinning preferable flavour in order to select and breed for better tasting new commercial papaya varieties. As an initial step, objectively measurable standards of the compound profiles that provide papaya’s taste and aroma, together with ‘mouth feel’, are required. This review presents an overview of the approaches to characterise the flavour profiles of papaya through sugar component determination, volatile compound detection, sensory panel testing, as well as genomics-based studies to identify the papaya flavour.
Genetic Diversity in Casein Gene Cluster in a Dromedary Camel (C. dromedarius) Population from the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Mutery Abdullah Al , Rais Naushad , Mohamed Walaa KE , Abdelaziz Tlili
Published: September 2021

Genetic polymorphisms, causing variation in casein genes (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, and CSN3), have been extensively studied in goats and cows, but there are only few studies reported in camels. Therefore, we aimed to identify alleles with functional roles in the United Arab Emirates dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population to complement previous studies conducted on the same species. Using targeted next-generation sequencing, we sequenced all genes in the casein gene cluster in 93 female camels to identify and characterize novel gene variants. Most variants were found in noncoding introns and upstream sequences, but a few variants showed the possibility of functional impact. CSN2 was found to be most polymorphic, with total 91 different variants, followed by CSN1S1, CSN3 and CSN1S2. CSN1S1, CSN1S2 and CSN2 each had at least two variants while CSN3 had only one functional allele. In future research, the functional impact of these variants should be investigated further.
C3435T Polymorphism of the ABCB1 Gene in Polish Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case–Control and Meta-Analysis Study
Authors: Petryszyn Paweł , Dudkowiak Robert , Gruca Agnieszka , Jaźwińska-Tarnawska Ewa , Ekk-Cierniakowski Paweł , Poniewierka Elżbieta , Wiela-Hojeńska Anna , Głowacka Krystyna
Published: September 2021

P-glycoprotein encoded by the ABCB1 gene constitutes a molecular barrier in the small and large bowel epithelium, and its different expression may influence susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to assess the contribution of the C3435T polymorphism to disease risk in the Polish population. A total of 100 patients (50 Crohn’s disease (CD), 50 ulcerative colitis (UC)) and 100 healthy controls were genotyped for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C3435T by using the PCR-RFLP method. Patients were classified on the basis of disease phenotype and the specific treatment used. A meta-analysis was carried out of our results and those from previously published Polish studies. There was no significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies in IBD patients compared with controls. For CD patients, a lower frequency of TT genotype in those with colonic disease, a lower frequency of T allele, and a higher frequency of C allele in those with luminal disease were observed, whereas for UC patients, a lower frequency of CT genotype was observed in those with left-sided colitis. A meta-analysis showed a tendency towards higher prevalence of CC genotype in UC cases. These results indicate that the C3435T variants may confer a risk for UC and influence disease behaviour.
Clamo Ergo Sum: Establishing a Fundamental Right to Protest from Christian Theologies of Liberation
Authors: Rugani Marc V.
Published: September 2021

The prevailing particular historical narratives that established the modern rights system greatly affect the participation, tenor, and limits of rights discourse today, too often ignoring or suppressing voices of those suffering or silenced. This essay is a contribution to the subversion of those histories, adverting to inconsistencies, in particular histories of modern rights, the need to amplify the voices of those suffering on the margins of that history, and the dangerous consequences if we fail to do so. By applying Enrique Dussel’s political philosophy and Gustavo Gutiérrez’s theology of liberation significant contributions can be made toward affirming a fundamental right to protest. The right to protest articulates a right co-foundational with the rights to life, liberty, and property, and this right is well grounded in a Christian account of the dignity of the human person.
Psychosocial Factors Related to Stroke Patients’ Rehabilitation Motivation: A Scoping Review and Meta-Analysis Focused on South Korea
Authors: Cheong Moon Joo , Kang Yeonseok , Kang Hyung Won
Published: September 2021

The incidence of strokes in individuals in their 30–40 s—who have responsibilities towards their families—has increased. Additionally, many stroke patients suffer from post-stroke disabilities and require rehabilitation. However, especially in younger stroke patients, factors such as financial burden and the inability to be productive lead to depression and thereby, the lack of rehabilitation motivation—which affects their therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, medical interventions alone are not sufficient. This study aimed to identify the psychosocial factors that affect stroke patients’ rehabilitation motivation. Hence, a scoping review was conducted to analyze the research trends across South Korean academic papers and theses, followed by a comprehensive meta-analysis to identify the correlations among the variables. Eighteen factors related to rehabilitation motivation were identified. The internal factors were depression, cognition, self-efficacy, self-esteem, disability acceptance, volition, communication, resilience, empowerment, and uncertainty. The external factors included sleep pattern, quality of life, activities of daily living, physical function, social support, financial burden, disease-related characteristics, and rehabilitation environment. Based on these findings, an intervention model should be developed to provide social support to stroke patients. Moreover, psychological interventions should be developed to enhance the self-efficacy of stroke patients who are undergoing rehabilitation.
Effects of Exercise Intervention on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials
Authors: Lu Ming-Chi , Koo Malcolm
Published: September 2021

Exercise and physical activity have been deemed as potentially beneficial for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise interventions on health-related quality of life in patients with SLE using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials published up to July 2021 were examined using the PubMed and Embase databases. Of the 1158 articles retrieved, nine were included for systematic review. Five of them were randomized controlled trials and these were assessed using meta-analysis. Hedges’ g effect size was 0.47; 95% (confidence interval 0.21–0.73; p < 0.001) for the physical health and function aspect of health-related quality of life. None of the other seven domains of the SF-36 showed a significant effect size. However, the latter finding was limited by the small number of available trials. In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis supported that exercise intervention compared to usual care might be able to improve the physical functioning domain of health-related quality of life in patients with SLE. Future high-quality randomized controlled trials that incorporate disease-specific health-related quality of life measures are needed to elucidate the role of exercise on health-related quality of life in patients with SLE.
Transcultural Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W-E)
Authors: Ruiz de Viñaspre-Hernández Regina , Garrido-Santamaria Rosana , Urra-Martínez Raquel , Sáenz-Cabredo Paula , Martínez-Tofe Jesús , Burgos-Esteban Amaya , Gea-Caballero Vicente , Antón-Solanas Isabel , Santolalla-Arnedo Iván , Juárez-Vela Raúl
Published: September 2021

Background: Sexual satisfaction is a complex and multidimensional concept. It encompasses physical, emotional, relational and cultural dimensions, and constitutes an essential component of sexual health, as well as an indicator of quality of life and wellbeing. The Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W) was designed in the United States, and it is a valid and reliable tool to measure women’s sexual satisfaction. Aim: The aim of this study was to culturally adapt and translate the SSS-W into Spanish and analyze its psychometric properties. Methods: First, the original instrument was culturally adapted and translated from English to Spanish. Then, we tested the psychometric properties of the instrument in its Spanish version in a sample of 316 women who attended a family planning clinic in Logroño, Spain. Internal consistency reliability of the whole scale and each subscale separately was measured using Cronbach’s alpha. Factorial validity of the SSS-W in its Spanish version was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis through the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sample adequacy and Bartlett’s Sphericity test. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the total scale and each subscale were satisfactory (>0.7). Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the five hypothetical dimensions of the scale in its Spanish version. The five dimensions (contentment, communication, compatibility, relational concern, and personal concern) explained 60% of the total variance of the scale; factor analysis using varimax rotation revealed strong loads in each of the five components. Conclusions: The SSS-W in its Spanish version is a valid and reliable tool to assess sexual satisfaction in Spanish women of reproductive age and, therefore, can be used both in clinical practice and for the investigation of sexual health.
Students’ Wellbeing during Transition from Onsite to Online Education: Are There Risks Arising from Social Isolation?
Authors: Butnaru Gina Ionela , Haller Alina-Petronela , Dragolea Larisa-Loredana , Anichiti Alexandru , Tacu Hârșan Georgia-Daniela
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to activities in many fields, including education and lifestyle. Major changes have taken place in the education system, where specific activities migrated suddenly from onsite to online. As a result, this period has witnessed an increased interest in impact studies that analyse the perceptions of the actors involved in the educational process. Based on the survey data (N = 665), the perceptions of the students in Romanian universities with regard to the effects of online education during the pandemic on their wellbeing were analysed. The empirical apparatus—SEM analysis—reached the following conclusions: the students’ wellbeing was increased under the traditional education system; the economic crisis has caused concern, and a decrease in their wellbeing; their contamination fear is moderate to low, and does not influence their wellbeing; they have been discouraged in terms of their personal development during the pandemic, and their wellbeing has suffered as a result; the role of institutions is extremely important, given that the students’ ability to study online depends on the universities’ efficiency in implementing the online system.
Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypotheses in Chinese Provinces: A Nexus between Regional Government Expenditures and Environmental Quality
Authors: Zeraibi Ayoub , Balsalobre-Lorente Daniel , Shehzad Khurram
Published: September 2021

With rapid economic growth, the Chinese government expenditures at various levels have increased adequately. At the same time, the environmental quality in China has deteriorated significantly. In this study, provincial-level data for 31 Chinese provinces during 2007–2017 are used to investigate the impacts of government expenditure on the emissions of three specific measures of environmental degradation. The main objective of this study is to examine the influence of government expenditures, economic growth per capita, environment protection expenditure, and added second-sector value on environmental quality by measuring sulfur dioxide (SO2), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammonia nitrogen emissions (AN). Moreover, the study applied the generalized method of moments (GMM) and the fully modified least square (FMOLS) to estimate the co-integration relationship among the underlying factors. The results demonstrate a significant direct effect of government expenditure on improving environmental quality overall in the Chinese provinces, which increases with the level of economic growth. However, the results also confirmed the inverted N-shaped relationship between the pollution factor and economic growth per capita. Our key findings lead toward the manifestation and emphasis of the importance of appropriate policies for restoring government expenditure and, at the same time, strengthening the relationship between the industrial sector and environmental policy standards. Significantly, governments in developing countries should allocate larger budgets for environmental projects in their fiscal reforms for the sake of moving to greener and more inclusive economies with low-carbon activities.
A Comprehensive Survey on Security and Privacy for Electronic Health Data
Authors: Oh Se-Ra , Seo Young-Duk , Lee Euijong , Kim Young-Gab
Published: September 2021

Recently, the integration of state-of-the-art technologies, such as modern sensors, networks, and cloud computing, has revolutionized the conventional healthcare system. However, security concerns have increasingly been emerging due to the integration of technologies. Therefore, the security and privacy issues associated with e-health data must be properly explored. In this paper, to investigate the security and privacy of e-health systems, we identified major components of the modern e-health systems (i.e., e-health data, medical devices, medical networks and edge/fog/cloud). Then, we reviewed recent security and privacy studies that focus on each component of the e-health systems. Based on the review, we obtained research taxonomy, security concerns, requirements, solutions, research trends, and open challenges for the components with strengths and weaknesses of the analyzed studies. In particular, edge and fog computing studies for e-health security and privacy were reviewed since the studies had mostly not been analyzed in other survey papers.
Effective Removal of Cr(VI) from Wastewater Using Biochar Derived from Walnut Shell
Authors: Kokab Tanzeela , Ashraf Hafiza Sumbal , Shakoor Muhammad Bilal , Jilani Asim , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Majid Muzaffar , Ali Shafaqat , Farid Nazar , Alghamdi Rana A. , Al-Quwaie Diana A. H. , Hakeem Khalid Rehman
Published: September 2021

Heavy metals are the major concern of the modern age. Among the heavy metals, chromium (Cr(VI)) is regarded as a highly toxic heavy metal released largely from leather tanning operations. To remove such high concentrations of Cr(VI), an advanced method is required urgently. Thus, biosorption using biochar, which is an organic material produced from various sources such as walnut shell, can be applied successfully for Cr(VI) abatement. The major objectives of this experiment were the remediation of the Cr(VI) heavy metal using walnut shell biochar and checking of the effect of pH, biochar dosage, Cr level, and shaking time. Remediation of Cr(VI) using walnut shell biochar was proved to be effective and removed the maximum concentration of Cr(VI) up to 93% at pH 5.5, 2 h agitation time, and the biochar amount of 1.1 g L−1 from an aqueous solution. Equilibrium modeling demonstrated that the chemisorption process was involved in adsorption of Cr(VI). The surface of the biochar was porous and provided numerous sites for Cr(VI) attachment, which was also confirmed by the presence of Cr(VI) onto the biochar after adsorption. Hence, the use of walnut shell biochar was highly effective as a sorbent, which could conveniently be applied to small-scale as well as large-scale levels.
Social Acceptance of Gas, Wind, and Solar Energies in the Canary Islands
Authors: Marrero Rosario J. , Hernández-Cabrera Juan Andrés , Fumero Ascensión , Hernández Bernardo
Published: September 2021

Background: This study tested a theoretical model including key psychosocial factors that could be involved in the acceptance of different energy sources (gas, wind, and solar); Methods: Participants were 550 adult residents of the Canary Islands. Variables assessed were information and utility (normative motives), perceived risk and perceived benefits (gain motives), and negative and positive emotions (hedonic motives), with acceptance of each of the three energy sources as outcome variables; Results: It was found that renewable energies (wind and solar) had a higher degree of acceptance than non-renewable energy (gas). The proposed model satisfactorily explained the social acceptance of the three energy sources, although the psychosocial factors involved differed by energy source. The gain motives, mainly perceived benefits, were associated to a greater extent with gas energy, whereas normative motives, such as utility, and hedonic motives, such as positive emotions, had greater weight for renewables. Gender differences in gas energy were found. Information about renewable energy increased positive emotions and acceptance, whereas information about fossil fuel-based energy generated more negative emotions and perceived risk, decreasing acceptance; Conclusions: Utility, perceived benefits and positive emotions were involved on the acceptance of both renewables and non-renewables. The theoretical model tested seems to be useful for understanding the psychosocial functioning of the acceptance of the various energy sources as an essential aspect for the transition of non-renewable to renewable energies.