bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacillus-Mediated Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis and Its Antagonistic Activity against Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Kabeerdass Nivedhitha , Al Otaibi Ahmed , Rajendran Manikandan , Manikandan Ayyar , Kashmery Heba A. , Rahman Mohammed M. , Madhu P. , Khan Anish , Asiri Abdullah M. , Mathanmohun Maghimaa
Published: November 2021

In this article, the supernatant of the soil-borne pathogen Bacillus mn14 was used as the catalyst for the synthesis of AgNPs. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of Bs-AgNPs was evaluated, in which S. viridans and R. solani showed susceptibility at 70 µL and 100 µL concentrations. Enzyme properties of the isolates, according to minimal inhibitory action and a growth-enhancing hormone–indole acetic acid (IAA) study of the isolates, were expressed in TLC as a purple color with an Rf value of 0.7. UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed the presence of small-sized AgNPs, with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 450 nm. The particle size analyzer identified the average diameter of the particles as 40.2 nm. The X-ray diffraction study confirmed the crystalline nature and face-centered cubic type of the silver nanoparticle. Scanning electron microscopy characterized the globular, small, round shape of the silver nanoparticle. AFM revealed the two-dimensional topology of the silver nanoparticle with a characteristic size ranging around 50 nm. Confocal microscopy showed the cell-wall disruption of S. viridans treated with Bs-AgNPs. High-content screening and compound microscopy revealed the destruction of mycelia of R. solani after exposure to Bs-AgNPs. Furthermore, the Bs-AgNPs cured sheath blight disease by reducing lesion length and enhancing root and shoot length in Oryza sativa seeds. This soil-borne pathogen Bacillus-mediated synthesis approach of AgNPs appears to be cost-efficient, ecofriendly, and farmer-friendly, representing an easy way of providing valuable nutritious edibles in the future.
The aadE*-sat4-aphA-3 Gene Cluster of Mycoplasma bovirhinis HAZ141_2 Undergoes Genomic Rearrangements Influencing the Primary Promoter Sequence
Authors: Lysnyansky Inna , Borovok Ilya
Published: November 2021

The 54 kb GC-rich prophage region of Mycoplasma bovirhinis HAZ141_2 contains three structural ‘compartments’, one of which is a highly transmittable cluster of three genes, aadE-like (aadE*), sat4, and aphA-3. In this study, we characterized recombination events and their consequences occurred within the aadE*-sat4-aphA-3 containing region. Analysis of this region revealed direct repeats (DRs) of 155 and invert repeats (IRs) of 197 base pairs (bps) each, flanking and overlapping with the primary promoter P* located upstream of the aadE*. Two recombination events, including inversions via both 197 and 155-bp IRs (the latter become inverted after the initial 197-bp IRs associated inversion) and the excision of the aadE*-sat4-aphA-3 cluster, were confirmed. Inversion via 155-IRs results in changes within the P* promoter region. Using Escherichia coli JM109 carrying plasmids containing derivatives of the aadE*-sat4-aphA-3 cluster, we validated the expression of those genes from different promoters. Our results showed no difference in the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to kanamycin and neomycin and only 2-fold decrease in MIC (from 512 to 256 μg/mL) to nourseothricin between the wild type and a P* derivative promoter. However, the MICs to kanamycin and neomycin were at least 4-fold lower in the construct where aphA-3 expressed under its P2 promoter (128 µg/mL) in comparison to the construct where aphA-3 expressed under P1″ promoter located within the sat4 gene (512–1024 µg/mL). PCR confirmed the excision of the aadE*-sat4-aphA-3 cluster via 197- and 155-bp DRs, but no selection of antibiotic-sensitive M. bovirhinis were obtained after 100 passages in kanamycin-free medium.
Natural Bred ε2-Phages Have an Improved Host Range and Virulence against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli over Their Ancestor Phages
Authors: Loose Maria , Sáez Moreno David , Mutti Michele , Hitzenhammer Eva , Visram Zehra , Dippel David , Schertler Susanne , Tišáková Lenka Podpera , Wittmann Johannes , Corsini Lorenzo , Wagenlehner Florian
Published: November 2021

Alternative treatments for Escherichia coli infections are urgently needed, and phage therapy is a promising option where antibiotics fail, especially for urinary tract infections (UTI). We used wastewater-isolated phages to test their lytic activity against a panel of 47 E. coli strains reflecting the diversity of strains found in UTI, including sequence type 131, 73 and 69. The plaquing host range (PHR) was between 13 and 63%. In contrast, the kinetic host range (KHR), describing the percentage of strains for which growth in suspension was suppressed for 24 h, was between 0% and 19%, substantially lower than the PHR. To improve the phage host range and their efficacy, we bred the phages by mixing and propagating cocktails on a subset of E. coli strains. The bred phages, which we termed evolution-squared ε2-phages, of a mixture of Myoviridae have KHRs up to 23% broader compared to their ancestors. Furthermore, using constant phage concentrations, Myoviridae ε2-phages suppressed the growth of higher bacterial inocula than their ancestors did. Thus, the ε2-phages were more virulent compared to their ancestors. Analysis of the genetic sequences of the ε2-phages with the broadest host range reveals that they are mosaic intercrossings of 2–3 ancestor phages. The recombination sites are distributed over the whole length of the genome. All ε2-phages are devoid of genes conferring lysogeny, antibiotic resistance, or virulence. Overall, this study shows that ε2-phages are remarkably more suitable than the wild-type phages for phage therapy.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Inhibits Cell Proliferation through a Suppression of c-Myc Protein in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Syu Jia-Ning , Lee Der-Yen , Hung Hung-Chang , Li Chia-Ying , Lin Hung-Yu , Chiang En-Pei Isabel , Chen Yi-Heng , Huang Shu-Ming , Tang Feng-Yao
Published: October 2021

Treatment of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the aberrant activation of the survival signaling pathways has received considerable attention. We investigated the probable action of DHA on the suppression of cell proliferation in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Our results demonstrated that DHA dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation through an induction of cell cycle arrest in human PDAC cells. DHA suppressed the expression of phosphorylated-Rb (p-Rb), cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin A, E2F1 and c-Myc proteins. Blocking the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway led to an inactivation of CAMKII and increased phosphorylation of c-Myc (T58) protein accompanied with decreased expression of c-Myc protein. Treatment of DHA effectively inhibited cell survival through decreased phosphorylation levels of EGFR, STAT3 and CAMKII proteins. The mechanisms of action were associated with increased phosphorylation levels of c-Myc (T58) and instability of c-Myc proteins. DHA inhibited cell survival through an increased GSSG/GSH ratio and oxidative stress level in HPAF-II cells. DHA induced cell apoptosis through increased expression of Bax, c-caspase 3 and c-PARP proteins in HPAF-II cells. Moreover, treatment of DHA significantly inhibited nucleotide synthesis. In conclusion, DHA might significantly suppress the proliferation of PDAC cells and therefore have potential as an anti-cancer therapeutic agent.
The Effect of Pasteurization on the Antioxidant Properties of Human Milk: A Literature Review
Authors: Juncker Hannah G. , Ruhé Eliza J. M. , Burchell George L. , van den Akker Chris H. P. , Korosi Aniko , van Goudoever Johannes B. , van Keulen Britt J.
Published: November 2021

High rates of oxidative stress are common in preterm born infants and have short- and long-term consequences. The antioxidant properties of human milk limits the consequences of excessive oxidative damage. However, as the mother’s own milk it is not always available, donor milk may be provided as the best alternative. Donor milk needs to be pasteurized before use to ensure safety. Although pasteurization is necessary for safety reasons, it may affect the activity and concentration of several biological factors, including antioxidants. This literature review describes the effect of different pasteurization methods on antioxidant properties of human milk and aims to provide evidence to guide donor milk banks in choosing the best pasteurization method from an antioxidant perspective. The current literature suggests that Holder pasteurization reduces the antioxidant properties of human milk. Alternative pasteurization methods seem promising as less reduction is observed in several studies.
The Impact of N-Acetyl Cysteine and Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Antioxidants and Proteome in Fit Thoroughbred Horses
Authors: Henry Marisa L. , Velez-Irizarry Deborah , Pagan Joe D. , Sordillo Lorraine , Gandy Jeff , Valberg Stephanie J.
Published: November 2021

Horses have one of the highest skeletal muscle oxidative capacities amongst mammals, which, combined with a high glycolytic capacity, could perturb redox status during maximal exercise. We determined the effect of 30 d of oral coenzyme Q10 and N-acetyl-cysteine supplementation (NACQ) on muscle glutathione (GSH), cysteine, ROS, and coenzyme Q10 concentrations, and the muscle proteome, in seven maximally exercising Thoroughbred horses using a placebo and randomized cross-over design. Gluteal muscle biopsies were obtained the day before and 1 h after maximal exercise. Concentrations of GSH, cysteine, coenzyme Q10, and ROS were measured, and citrate synthase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities analyzed. GSH increased significantly 1 h post-exercise in the NACQ group (p = 0.022), whereas other antioxidant concentrations/activities were unchanged. TMT proteomic analysis revealed 40 differentially expressed proteins with NACQ out of 387 identified, including upregulation of 13 mitochondrial proteins (TCA cycle and NADPH production), 4 Z-disc proteins, and down regulation of 9 glycolytic proteins. NACQ supplementation significantly impacted muscle redox capacity after intense exercise by enhancing muscle glutathione concentrations and increasing expression of proteins involved in the uptake of glutathione into mitochondria and the NAPDH-associated reduction of oxidized glutathione, without any evident detrimental effects on performance.
In Vitro Antioxidant Properties, Glucose-Diffusion Effects, α-Amylase Inhibitory Activity, and Antidiabetogenic Effects of C. Europaea Extracts in Experimental Animals
Authors: Ouassou Hayat , Bouhrim Mohamed , Bencheikh Noureddine , Addi Mohamed , Hano Christophe , Mekhfi Hassane , Ziyyat Abderrahim , Legssyer Abdekhaleq , Aziz Mohamed , Bnouham Mohamed
Published: November 2021

Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E.Br. (C. europaea), is a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat diabetes mellitus (DM) in Morocco. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antioxidant properties, glucose diffusion effects, α-amylase inhibitory activity, and pancreatic protective effects of C. europaea in experimental alloxan-induced diabetes in mice. Total phenolic contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method, total flavonoid contents were measured by aluminum chloride colorimetric assay, and tannins contents were determined by employing the vanillin method. C. europaea ethyl acetate fraction exhibited high antioxidant potential in terms of radical scavenging (DPPH) (IC50 = 0.22 ± 0.01 mg/mL), β-carotene bleaching activity (IC50 = 1.153 ± 0.07 mg/mL), and Ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Glucose diffusion was significantly inhibited by the ethyl acetate fraction at 60,120and 180 min, while the aqueous extract did not have this inhibitory effect when compared with the control group. Potent α-amylase inhibitory activity was observed in the ethyl acetate fraction and the aqueous extract in vitro and in vivo using STZ-diabetic rats. On the other hand, the administration of the ethyl acetate fraction (60 mg/kg) significantly attenuated alloxan-induced death and hyperglycemia in treated mice. Furthermore, histopathological investigations revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction protected islets of Langerhans against alloxan-induced tissue alterations. These results suggest that C. europaea exhibited an important antihyperglycemic effect via the inhibition of glucose diffusion and pancreatic α-amylase activity. In addition, the antidiabetogenic effect of C. europaea might be attributed to their polyphenol and flavonoid compounds, which could be reacted alone, or in synergy, to scavenge the free radicals produced by the alloxan.
Ocular Implications in Patients with Sleep Apnea
Authors: Anton Nicoleta , Ciuntu Roxana Elena , Chiseliţă Dorin , Danielescu Ciprian , Alexa Anisia Iuliana , Cantemir Alina , Bogdănici Camelia Margareta , Brănișteanu Daniel Constantin , Doroftei Bogdan
Published: October 2021

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes of total or partial collapse of the upper respiratory tract associated with daytime drowsiness that cannot be explained by other factors. SAS is a pathology that can cause ophthalmological damage both directly through the pathophysiological mechanism characteristic of the disease on the ocular system, and indirectly by promoting the development of other pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic), which are a risk factor for ocular morbidity in the absence of sleep apnea syndrome. The aim of this paper is to highlight the ocular symptoms determined by sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), by analyzing literature over the past 20 years. Method: A mini-review that collected data from Pub Med Central, ResearchGate, GoogleScholar, DovePress, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, related to the ocular implications given by sleep apnea syndrome, with or without continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. The study included articles that identified a number of eye conditions associated with sleep apnea, such as: dry eye syndrome and impaired ocular surface, glaucoma, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, floppy eyelid syndrome, keratoconus, central serous chorioretinopathy, central vein occlusion, corneal neovascularization, and age-related macular degeneration. Sleep apnea syndrome is a pathology that can cause the onset or worsening of varying degrees of severity eye diseases by its pathophysiological mechanism, with a different impact on the quality of the individual’s life. On one hand, the purpose of this review is to identify studies in literature that associate sleep apnea syndrome with eye alterations; on the other hand, to inform the Romanian medical staff in different fields of the patients’ guidance diagnosed with SAS to an ophthalmology clinic since early and mild symptoms, so that these patients benefit from an ophthalmological approach and monitoring, in an attempt to diagnose and treat eye diseases in time and prevent their worsening.
Exploiting Modern Chladni Plates to Analogously Manifest the Point Interaction
Authors: Tseng Yu-Chen , Hsu Yu-Hsin , Lai Yu-Hsiang , Yu Yan-Ting , Liang Hsing-Chih , Huang Kai-Feng , Chen Yung-Fu
Published: October 2021

A truncated basis is employed to analyze the influence of the point interaction on the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions in quantum billiards. The point interaction is numerically confirmed to cause the shift in the eigenvalue that leads the original eigenfunctions to be superposed to form the new eigenfunction. The amplitude and nodal-line patterns of the eigenfunctions are found to vary significantly with the coupling strength. It is further verified that the point-driven Chladni plates can be employed to analogously manifest the noticeable dependence of the nodal-line pattern on the coupling strength. More importantly, the dispersion relation between the frequency and the wave number for the flexural wave can be precisely determined in the process of utilizing the point interaction to model the modern Chladni plates.
Interactive Part Segmentation Using Edge Images
Authors: Oh Ju-Young , Park Jung-Min
Published: October 2021

As more and more fields utilize deep learning, there is an increasing demand to make suitable training data for each field. The existing interactive object segmentation models can easily make the mask label data because these can accurately segment the area of the target object through user interaction. However, it is difficult to accurately segment the target part in the object using the existing models. We propose a method to increase the accuracy of part segmentation by using the proposed interactive object segmentation model trained only with edge images instead of color images. The results evaluated with the PASCAL VOC Part dataset show that the proposed method can accurately segment the target part compared to the existing interactive object segmentation model and the semantic part-segmentation model.
The Transformation by Catalysis of Prebiotic Chemical Systems to Useful Biochemicals: A Perspective Based on IR Spectroscopy of the Primary Chemicals: Solid-Phase and Water-Soluble Catalysts
Authors: Larsson Ragnar , Malek Abdul
Published: October 2021

This study is a continuation of our research on understanding the possible chemical routes to the evolution of life on earth based on the “Selective Energy Transfer” (SET) theory. This theory identifies the specific vibrational mode of the catalyst that is in energy-resonance with a suitable vibrational mode of the reactant. In this way, energy is transferred from catalyst to reactant up to the energy of activation, making possible a particular chemical outcome. Then, we extend this model to the mostly unknown and highly complex environment of the hydrothermal vents, to speculate how prebiotic chemicals, necessary for the evolution of life, could have formed. It is to the credit of the SET theory that it can reflect the slight difference in the catalytic system that gives dramatically very different chemical outcome. It is shown, here, how in model laboratory experiments, methanol gives dimethyl ether (DME) in a 100% yield with Cu exchanged montmorillonite as the catalyst, or a very different product methyl formate (MF) in lower yields, with another Cu2+ ion-exchanged clay mineral (laponite) as the catalyst system. We also show, based on standard laboratory experiments, how COS (carbonyl sulfide) with a strong absorption band at 2079 cm−1 by itself and/or catalyzed by montmorillonite with strong Si-O-Si asymmetric vibration of 1040 cm−1 can react with alpha-amino acids to form alpha-amino acid thiocarbamate (AATC), which we feel could represent the most primitive analogue to coenzyme A (CoASH), a highly versatile bio-enzyme that is vital both for the metabolism and the synthesis of biochemicals in the living system. AATC itself may have undergone evolutionary developments through billions of years to transform itself into coenzyme A (CoASH) and its acetyl ester analogue acetyl coenzyme A (ACoA).
Analysis of Dynamic Behavior of Spray Boom under Step Excitation
Authors: Yan Junchao , Xue Xinyu , Cui Longfei , Ding Suming , Gu Wei , Le Feixiang
Published: October 2021

Dynamic behavior modeling and parameter optimization of the spray boom based on multi-body vibration were developed to study the influence of the boom sprayer’s motion in a complex working environment on the dynamic behavior of the spray boom. First, a geometric continuous model of spray boom vibration was established considering the influence of the boom sprayer body and boom suspension. Then, the dynamic behavior of the spray boom under step excitation was studied on a SWAN3WP-500 self-propelled boom spray experimental platform. The time-domain response of spray boom movement was characterized using a multi-channel dynamic test system, and the simulation results of the geometric continuous model were verified. The correlation coefficient between the simulated and experimental results is 0.917, and the maximum relative error is 12.16%. Finally, the effects of boom sprayer speed, spray boom length, and spray boom cross-section shape on spray boom vibration were analyzed through the geometric continuous model. (1) The amplitude and period of vibration at the extremity of the spray boom gradually decline with a rise in boom sprayer speed. (2) The amplitude and period of vibration at the extremity of the spray boom gradually increase when the unilateral spray boom is shorter than 5 m but slowly decrease when it is longer than 5 m. To avoid excessive static elastic deformation of the spray boom, the length of the unilateral spray boom should be controlled within 6 m. (3) A reasonable cross-sectional shape can improve the spray boom vibration, and the spray boom with a type B cross-section can better inhibit the vertical vibration of the spray boom under the same cross-sectional area.
Elusive Recurrent Bacterial Contamination in a Diatom Culture: A Case Study
Authors: Morozov Alexey A. , Galachyants Yuri P. , Marchenkov Artyom M. , Petrova Darya P. , Zakharova Yulia R.
Published: October 2021

In preparation for whole-genome sequencing, the axenic culture for two strains of a freshwater diatom Fragilaria radians were produced. Although their axenicity was controlled for the cultures’ entire lifetime, the published genomic assembly was later found to contain a large amount of bacterial sequences. Using various in silico analyses of whole genome read libraries and 16S rRNA sequencing of culture samples, we reconstruct the history of the contamination and document the failures of various axenicity control methods. This knowledge is used to discuss how these failures could have been avoided, and to provide guidelines for future works on axenic diatom cultures.
A New Biorefinery Approach for the Full Valorisation of Anchovy Residues: Use of the Sludge Generated during the Extraction of Fish Oil as a Nitrogen Supplement in Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Fazzino Filippo , Paone Emilia , Pedullà Altea , Mauriello Francesco , Calabrò Paolo S.
Published: November 2021

Several anchovies species are captured all over the world; they are consumed fresh but also preserved by the industry, either by brine-fermentation or canning in oil. The industrial process generates large amounts of residue (about 50% of the original fish biomass) that is generally used to produce fish flour. In this paper, the advancement of a recently proposed process for the full valorisation of anchovies aimed at the extraction of fish oil (to be used as an omega-3 source) and at the production of biomethane through anaerobic digestion is presented. Particularly, in the experiments presented, a co-digestion of anchovy sludge—used as a nitrogen supplement—and market waste (5% and 95% on a Total Solids basis) was performed. Since the proposed extraction process uses, as a green-solvent, d-limonene, the well-known problems of toxicity for the anaerobic biomass must be overcome during the digestion process. As discussed below, the granular activated carbon (GAC) is used to reclaim and improve anaerobic digestion processes in a reactor displaying clear signs of inhibition. In fact, GAC demonstrates multiple benefits for anaerobic digestion, such as adsorption of toxic substances, biomass selection, and triggering of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET).
Novel Implementation of Audio Encryption Using Pseudorandom Byte Generator
Authors: Stoyanov Borislav , Ivanova Tsvetelina
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we present an algorithm for encrypting audio files based on the Ikeda map, a mathematical function of chaos theory. Detailed experimental, security and theoretical analysis is provided on the proposed algorithm using histogram analysis, using different measurements including the signal-to-noise ratio, the peak signal-to-noise ratio, the number of samples change rate and the correlation coefficient. The provided results show a highly secure and strong algorithm against different types of attacks.
A Novel Bi-Tuning SSO Algorithm for Optimizing the Budget-Limited Sensing Coverage Problem in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhu Wenbo , Huang Chia-Ling , Yeh Wei-Chang , Jiang Yunzhi , Tan Shi-Yi
Published: November 2021

The wireless sensor network (WSN) plays an essential role in various practical smart applications, e.g., smart grids, smart factories, Internet of Things, and smart homes, etc. WSNs are comprised and embedded wireless smart sensors. With advanced developments in wireless sensor networks research, sensors have been rapidly used in various fields. In the meantime, the WSN performance depends on the coverage ratio of the sensors being used. However, the coverage of sensors generally relates to their cost, which usually has a limit. Hence, a new bi-tuning simplified swarm optimization (SSO) is proposed that is based on the SSO to solve such a budget-limited WSN sensing coverage problem to maximize the number of coverage areas to improve the performance of WSNs. The proposed bi-tuning SSO enhances SSO by integrating the novel concept to tune both the SSO parameters and SSO update mechanism simultaneously. The performance and applicability of the proposed bi-tuning SSO using seven different parameter settings are demonstrated through an experiment involving nine WSN tests ranging from 20, 100, to 300 sensors. The proposed bi-tuning SSO outperforms two state-of-the-art algorithms: genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), and can efficiently accomplish the goals of this work.
Possibilities of Evaluating the Effectiveness of Noise Barriers in Slovakia
Authors: Pultznerová Alžbeta , Šimo Ján , Grenčík Juraj
Published: November 2021

This paper presents environmental acute problems from increasing noise levels caused by automobile and rail transport. Noise barriers are considered to be an effective element in reducing noise in densely populated urban areas. However, do these barriers have the correct height, shape, material design, and construction? In the materials and methods, the basic characteristics of noise barrier, sound absorption, and sound insulation are described. Further, measurement methods of the insertion loss of outdoor noise barriers of all types using the direct and indirect method according to standard ISO 10847 and the Adrienne method according to standards EN 1793-5 and EN 1793-6 are presented. The measurement results of insertion loss of the selected noise barrier obtained by the indirect method showed a value of 19.1 dB(A) of insertion loss. This result was compared with simulation by our own software based on the CNOSSOS methodology, giving value of 19.6 dB(A), which is a good correlation. The Adrienne method was used for determination of the airborne sound insulation index of another noise barrier, giving a value of the single-number rating of the sound insulation of the barrier of 28 dB. In discussion, according to EN 1793-2, this value assigns an insulation index of category D3, which means that the barrier is high quality and has satisfactory airborne sound insulation. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods according to STN ISO 10847 and STN EN 1793-6 were discussed. We concluded that the main advantage of the method Adrienne—TN EN 1793-6 is that it can be used in situ under direct sound field conditions and can directly evaluate the sound insulation index of the whole barrier structure.
Self-Grinding Silage Knife Strengthened with Ni–WC Alloy Prepared by Laser Cladding
Authors: Xu Lingfeng , Song Zhanhua , Li Mingxiang , Li Fade , Guo Jing , Gao Ming
Published: November 2021

The working environment of agricultural cutting tools is poor, and the operational quality and efficiency are reduced after they become blunt. This study aimed to develop a high wear-resistant agriculture knife with a long life. A Ni–WC alloy, wear-resistant layer was prepared using laser cladding technology on one side of the cutting edge of a 65 Mn silage knife. A self-grinding edge was formed when the cladded knife was used, which improved the cutting quality and service life of the knife. The microstructure, phase, composition, and hardness distribution of the cladding layer were detected and analyzed. The impact toughness and wear resistance of the laser-cladded samples were analyzed, and the cladded knife was tested in the field. The results show that a cladded layer with a dense microstructure formed metallurgical bonds with the substrate. The microhardness was uniform across the cladded layer, and the average hardness of the micro Vickers was approximately 1000 HV(0.2), which was approximately three times the hardness of the substrate. The impact toughness and wear resistance of the coated knife were obviously higher than those of uncoated knives. The field tests showed that compared with a conventional 65 Mn knife, the self-grinding knife with laser cladding could maintain its sharp cutting shape after operation for 76 h, which greatly extended the service life of the knife. This study improved the service life of an agricultural cutting tool, which enhanced the cutting performance and efficiency at the same time.
User Satisfaction Survey on Public Transport by a New PAHP Based Model
Authors: Duleba Szabolcs , Moslem Sarbast
Published: November 2021

There is an obvious trade-off between information obtained from passenger surveys and cost and time investment. This paper offers a new approach for this problem and its detailed step-by-step procedure description. Parsimonious Analytic Hierarchy Process (PAHP) is a recently created methodology that combines the simplicity of direct evaluations with the consistency and reliability of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In the paper, the first large sample survey of passenger satisfaction by a new, PAHP-based model and procedure is presented as a case study. Moreover, a comparison with an AHP survey on the same public transport system and the same pattern are demonstrated. Since the comparative analysis produced a strong correlation between AHP and PAHP outcomes, it can be stated that the new procedure is less time consuming and costly than the AHP, while possessing the same benefits, and thus, it is more trustworthy than satisfaction measured by direct evaluations. Consequently, our proposed model can be applied both in theoretical and practical cases. Theoretically, it solves the problem of avoiding the use of large pairwise comparison matrices, and practically, it is a useful support to public satisfaction surveys, especially in the transportation sector.
Polarization Imaging of Liquid Crystal Polymer Using Terahertz Difference-Frequency Generation Source
Authors: Nakanishi Atsushi , Hayashi Shohei , Satozono Hiroshi , Fujita Kazuue
Published: November 2021

We performed the polarization imaging of a liquid crystal polymer with a terahertz difference-frequency generation (THz DFG) source. The DFG source is an easy-to-operate and practical THz source. Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are suitable for applications such as fuel cell components, aircraft parts, and next-generation wireless communication materials. Accordingly, the demand for evaluating the orientation of liquid crystals, which affects the properties of the polymers, is set to increase. Since LCPs exhibit birefringence in the THz range due to the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, we can determine the alignment of the molecules from the direction of the optical axis.
An Improved Model for Analyzing Textual Sentiment Based on a Deep Neural Network Using Multi-Head Attention Mechanism
Authors: Sharaf Al-deen Hashem Saleh , Zeng Zhiwen , Al-sabri Raeed , Hekmat Arash
Published: November 2021

Due to the increasing growth of social media content on websites such as Twitter and Facebook, analyzing textual sentiment has become a challenging task. Therefore, many studies have focused on textual sentiment analysis. Recently, deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks and long short-term memory, have achieved promising performance in sentiment analysis. These models have proven their ability to cope with the arbitrary length of sequences. However, when they are used in the feature extraction layer, the feature distance is highly dimensional, the text data are sparse, and they assign equal importance to various features. To address these issues, we propose a hybrid model that combines a deep neural network with a multi-head attention mechanism (DNN–MHAT). In the DNN–MHAT model, we first design an improved deep neural network to capture the text’s actual context and extract the local features of position invariants by combining recurrent bidirectional long short-term memory units (Bi-LSTM) with a convolutional neural network (CNN). Second, we present a multi-head attention mechanism to capture the words in the text that are significantly related to long space and encoding dependencies, which adds a different focus to the information outputted from the hidden layers of BiLSTM. Finally, a global average pooling is applied for transforming the vector into a high-level sentiment representation to avoid model overfitting, and a sigmoid classifier is applied to carry out the sentiment polarity classification of texts. The DNN–MHAT model is tested on four reviews and two Twitter datasets. The results of the experiments illustrate the effectiveness of the DNN–MHAT model, which achieved excellent performance compared to the state-of-the-art baseline methods based on short tweets and long reviews.
Impacts of Permafrost Degradation on Carbon Stocks and Emissions under a Warming Climate: A Review
Authors: Jin Huijun , Ma Qiang
Published: November 2021

A huge amount of carbon (C) is stored in permafrost regions. Climate warming and permafrost degradation induce gradual and abrupt carbon emissions into both the atmosphere and hydrosphere. In this paper, we review and synthesize recent advances in studies on carbon stocks in permafrost regions, biodegradability of permafrost organic carbon (POC), carbon emissions, and modeling/projecting permafrost carbon feedback to climate warming. The results showed that: (1) A large amount of organic carbon (1460–1600 PgC) is stored in permafrost regions, while there are large uncertainties in the estimation of carbon pools in subsea permafrost and in clathrates in terrestrial permafrost regions and offshore clathrate reservoirs; (2) many studies indicate that carbon pools in Circum-Arctic regions are on the rise despite the increasing release of POC under a warming climate, because of enhancing carbon uptake of boreal and arctic ecosystems; however, some ecosystem model studies indicate otherwise, that the permafrost carbon pool tends to decline as a result of conversion of permafrost regions from atmospheric sink to source under a warming climate; (3) multiple environmental factors affect the decomposability of POC, including ground hydrothermal regimes, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, organic carbon contents, and microbial communities, among others; and (4) however, results from modeling and projecting studies on the feedbacks of POC to climate warming indicate no conclusive or substantial acceleration of climate warming from POC emission and permafrost degradation over the 21st century. These projections may potentially underestimate the POC feedbacks to climate warming if abrupt POC emissions are not taken into account. We advise that studies on permafrost carbon feedbacks to climate warming should also focus more on the carbon feedbacks from the rapid permafrost degradation, such as thermokarst processes, gas hydrate destabilization, and wildfire-induced permafrost degradation. More attention should be paid to carbon emissions from aquatic systems because of their roles in channeling POC release and their significant methane release potentials.
Spatial-Temporal Variation of Air PM2.5 and PM10 within Different Types of Vegetation during Winter in an Urban Riparian Zone of Shanghai
Authors: Wang Jing , Xie Changkun , Liang Anze , Jiang Ruiyuan , Man Zihao , Wu Hao , Che Shengquan
Published: November 2021

Particulate matter (PM) in urban riparian green spaces are undesirable for human participation in outdoor activities, especially PM2.5 and PM10. The PM deposition, dispersion and modification are influenced by various factors including vegetation, water bodies and meteorological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of vegetation structures and the river’s presence on PM in riparian zones. The spatial-temporal variations of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in three riparian vegetation communities with different structures (open grassland (G), arbor-grass (AG) and arbor-shrub-grass (ASG) woodlands) were monitored under relatively stable environment. The removal percentages (RP) and ratios of PM2.5 and PM10 were calculated and compared to identify the removal effect of vegetation structures and the river’s presence. It is found that: (1) when the wind was static (hourly wind speed < 0.2 m/s), the RP was ranked as follows: G > AG > ASG. When the wind was mild (0.2 m/s < hourly wind speed < 2 m/s), the RP was ranked as follows: G > ASG > AG. Generally, the G had the best removal effect during the monitoring period; (2) the lowest RP occurred in the middle of the G (–3.4% for PM2.5, 1.8% for PM10) while the highest RP were found in middle of the AG and ASG, respectively (AG: 2.1% for PM2.5, 6.7% for PM10; ASG: 2.4% for PM2.5, 6.3% for PM10). Vegetation cover changed the way of natural deposition and dispersion; (3) compared with static periods, PM removal percentages were significantly reduced under mild wind conditions, and they were positively correlated with wind speed during the mild-wind period. Thus, a piecewise function was inferred between wind speed and PM removal percentage; (4) for all three communities, the 1 m-to-river PM2.5/PM10 ratio was significantly lower than that at 6 m and 11 m, even lower than that in the ambient atmosphere. The river likely promoted the hygroscopic growth of PM2.5 and the generation of larger-sized particles by coagulation effect. Based on these findings, open grassland space is preferred alongside rivers and space for outdoor activities is suggested under canopies in the middle of woodlands.
Synoptic Causes and Socio-Economic Consequences of a Severe Dust Storm in the Middle East
Authors: Middleton Nick , Kashani Saviz Sehat , Attarchi Sara , Rahnama Mehdi , Mosalman Sahar Tajbakhsh
Published: November 2021

Dust storms represent one of the most severe, if underrated, natural hazards in drylands. This study uses ground observational data from meteorological stations and airports (SYNOP and METARs), satellite observations (MODIS level-3 gridded atmosphere daily products and CALIPSO) and reanalysis data (ERA5) to analyze the synoptic meteorology of a severe Middle Eastern dust storm in April 2015. Details of related socio-economic impacts, gathered largely from news media reports, are also documented. This dust storm affected at least 14 countries in an area of 10 million km2. The considerable impacts were felt across eight countries in health, transport, education, construction, leisure and energy production. Hospitals in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE experienced a surge in cases of respiratory complaints and ophthalmic emergencies, as well as vehicular trauma due to an increase in motor vehicle accidents. Airports in seven countries had to delay, divert and cancel flights during the dust storm. This paper is the first attempt to catalogue such dust storm impacts on multiple socio-economic sectors in multiple countries in any part of the world. This type of transboundary study of individual dust storm events is necessary to improve our understanding of their multiple impacts and so inform policymakers working on this emerging disaster risk management issue.
Analysis of the Transition of an Explosive Cyclone to a Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone
Authors: Kouroutzoglou John , Samos Ioannis , Flocas Helena A. , Hatzaki Maria , Lamaris Christos , Mamara Anna , Emmannouil Antonios
Published: November 2021

This study investigates the dynamics of the development phases of a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone (medicane) in the southern Ionian Sea, on 28 September 2018 that caused high impact phenomena in the central and eastern Mediterranean, focusing on the transition from explosive cyclone to medicane. The symmetry and the warm core structure of the system have been demonstrated via phase space diagrams determining three phases of the system development that are then supported on a dynamical basis. During the first phase of the system, baroclinic instability triggered the formation of the explosive cyclone, when strong upper-level PV anomalies at the dynamic tropopause level moved towards a pre-existed area of enhanced low-level baroclinicity over the coastal areas of Libya along with positive SST anomalies. The surface frontal structure was enhanced under the influence of the upper-level dynamic processes. During the second phase when the medicane formed, low-level diabatic processes determined the evolution of the surface cyclone, without any significant support from baroclinic processes in the upper troposphere. The distortion of the low-level baroclinicity and the frontal structure began after the initial weakening of the upper-level dynamics. During the third phase, the system remained barotropic, being affected by similar mechanisms as in the second phase but with lower intensity. The transition mechanism is not only the result of the seclusion of warm air in the cyclone core but, mainly, the continuation of an explosive cyclone or an intense cyclone when the occlusion began to form.
New Sufficient Conditions for Oscillation of Second-Order Neutral Delay Differential Equations
Authors: Hassan Taher , Moaaz Osama , Nabih Amany , Mesmouli Mouataz , El-Sayed Ahmed
Published: October 2021

In this work, new sufficient conditions for the oscillation of all solutions of the second-order neutral delay differential equations with the non-canonical operator are established. Using a generalized Riccati substitution, we obtained criteria that complement and extend some previous results in the literature.
Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Identifies Infrapatellar Fat Pad Macrophage Polarization in Acute Synovitis/Fat Pad Fibrosis and Cell Therapy
Authors: Kouroupis Dimitrios , Best Thomas M. , Kaplan Lee D. , Correa Diego , Griswold Anthony J.
Published: November 2021

The pathogenesis and progression of knee inflammatory pathologies is modulated partly by residing macrophages in the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP), thus, macrophage polarization towards pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes is important in joint disease pathologies. Alteration of M1/M2 balance contributes to the initiation and progression of joint inflammation and can be potentially altered with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. In an acute synovial/IFP inflammation rat model a single intra-articular injection of IFP-MSC was performed, having as controls (1) diseased rats not receiving IFP-MSC and (2) non-diseased rats. After 4 days, cell specific transcriptional profiling via single-cell RNA-sequencing was performed on isolated IFP tissue from each group. Eight transcriptomically distinct cell populations were identified within the IFP across all three treatment groups with a noted difference in the proportion of myeloid cells across the groups. Largely myeloid cells consisted of macrophages (>90%); one M1 sub-cluster highly expressing pro-inflammatory markers and two M2 sub-clusters with one of them expressing higher levels of canonical M2 markers. Notably, the diseased samples (11.9%) had the lowest proportion of cells expressing M2 markers relative to healthy (14.8%) and MSC treated (19.4%) samples. These results suggest a phenotypic polarization of IFP macrophages towards the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype in an acute model of inflammation, which are alleviated by IFP-MSC therapy inducing a switch towards an alternate M2 status. Understanding the IFP cellular heterogeneity and associated transcriptional programs may offer insights into novel therapeutic strategies for disabling joint disease pathologies.
Modulation of Macrophage Activity by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Context of Fracture Healing
Authors: Chen Yangmengfan , Menger Maximilian M. , Braun Benedikt J. , Schweizer Sara , Linnemann Caren , Falldorf Karsten , Ronniger Michael , Wang Hongbo , Histing Tina , Nussler Andreas K. , Ehnert Sabrina
Published: November 2021

Delayed fracture healing and fracture non-unions impose an enormous burden on individuals and society. Successful healing requires tight communication between immune cells and bone cells. Macrophages can be found in all healing phases. Due to their high plasticity and long life span, they represent good target cells for modulation. In the past, extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnet fields (ELF-PEMFs) have been shown to exert cell-specific effects depending on the field conditions. Thus, the aim was to identify the specific ELF-PEMFs able to modulate macrophage activity to indirectly promote mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (SCP-1 cells) function. After a blinded screening of 22 different ELF-PEMF, two fields (termed A and B) were further characterized as they diversely affected macrophage function. These two fields have similar fundamental frequencies (51.8 Hz and 52.3 Hz) but are emitted in different groups of pulses or rather send–pause intervals. Macrophages exposed to field A showed a pro-inflammatory function, represented by increased levels of phospho-Stat1 and CD86, the accumulation of ROS, and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, macrophages exposed to field B showed anti-inflammatory and pro-healing functions, represented by increased levels of Arginase I, increased secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors are known to induce healing processes. The conditioned medium from macrophages exposed to both ELF-PEMFs favored the migration of SCP-1 cells, but the effect was stronger for field B. Furthermore, the conditioned medium from macrophages exposed to field B, but not to field A, stimulated the expression of extracellular matrix genes in SCP-1 cells, i.e., COL1A1, FN1, and BGN. In summary, our data show that specific ELF-PEMFs may affect immune cell function. Thus, knowing the specific ELF-PEMFs conditions and the underlying mechanisms bears great potential as an adjuvant treatment to modulate immune responses during pathologies, e.g., fracture healing.
Utilization of Microbial Consortia as Biofertilizers and Biopesticides for the Production of Feasible Agricultural Product
Authors: Seenivasagan Renganathan , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: October 2021

Farmers are now facing a reduction in agricultural crop yield, due to the infertility of soils and poor farming. The application of chemical fertilizers distresses soil fertility and also human health. Inappropriate use of chemical fertilizer leads to the rapid decline in production levels in most parts of the world, and hence requires the necessary standards of good cultivation practice. Biofertilizers and biopesticides have been used in recent years by farmers worldwide to preserve natural soil conditions. Biofertilizer, a replacement for chemical fertilizer, is cost-effective and prevents environmental contamination to the atmosphere, and is a source of renewable energy. In contrast to chemical fertilizers, biofertilizers are cost-effective and a source of renewable energy that preserves long-term soil fertility. The use of biofertilizers is, therefore, inevitable to increase the earth’s productivity. A low-input scheme is feasible to achieve farm sustainability through the use of biological and organic fertilizers. This study investigates the use of microbial inoculants as biofertilizers to increase crop production.