bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dielectric and Antiferroelectric Properties of AgNbO3 Films Deposited on Different Electrodes
Authors: Ma Qingzhu , Li Xiang , Zhang Yanle , Duo Zhijin , Zhang Suwei , Zhao Lei
Published: November 2022

AgNbO3 antiferroelectric materials have become a hot topic due to their typical double polarization–electric field loops. AgNbO3 films usually exhibit superior properties to bulks. In this work, AgNbO3 films were fabricated via the pulsed laser deposition on (001) SrTiO3 substrate with (La0.5Sr0.5)CoO3, LaNiO3 and SrRuO3 bottom electrodes, in which the (La0.5Sr0.5)CoO3, LaNiO3 and SrRuO3 bottom electrodes were used to regulate the in-plane compressive stress of AgNbO3 films. It is found that AgNbO3 films deposited on (La0.5Sr0.5)CoO3, LaNiO3 and SrRuO3 bottom electrodes are epitaxial with dense microstructure. In changing the bottom electrodes from (La0.5Sr0.5)CoO3, LaNiO3 to SrRuO3, the in-plane compressive stress of AgNbO3 thin films becomes weaker, which leads to increased relative dielectric permittivity and reduced antiferroelectric–ferroelectric phase transition electric field EF from 272 kV/cm to 190 kV/cm. The reduced EF implies weakened antiferroelectric stability in AgNbO3 films. It can be seen that the antiferroelectric stability of AgNbO3 films could be regulated by changing the bottom electrodes.
Synthesis and Application of AgNPs-Chitosan Composite as a Self-Disinfecting Coating in Water-Based Polyurethane
Authors: Siritongsuk Pawinee , Thammawithan Saengrawee , Srichaiyapol Oranee , Nasompag Sawinee , Pongha Sarawut , Daduang Sakda , Klaynongsruang Sompong , Patramanon Rina
Published: November 2022

Infectious diseases still represent an important cause of mortality for humans. One of the main reasons is that various pathogenic bacteria can persist and survive on inanimate surfaces for many days. Therefore, self-disinfection coating technology has become of interest to deal with this problem. In this research, we propose to develop a self-disinfection coating containing AgNPs-chitosan composite in 50% water-based polyurethane (WPU), which has a strong short- and long-term antibacterial effect. The coating agent was synthesized by conventional composite approaches. The physical and chemical properties of AgNPs-chitosan nanocomposite are studied by TEM, SEM, and FTA 100 Drop Shape Instrument B Frame System. The results show that at a concentration of 39 μg/mL, when reducing the size of AgNPs from 7.29 ± 1.65 to 4.66 ± 2.08 nm, the shape of a sphere turns into an asymmetrical circle and leads to increasing aggregation of AgNPs. Negative charges on the surface of AgNPs interact with amine (-NH2) and hydroxyl (-OH) groups of chitosan through an electrostatic force. All formulations of the coating showed low hydrophobicity properties. Moreover, the short- and long-term antibacterial activity of the coating were investigated by application of the ISO 22196 standard protocol. The mean inhibition percentage of E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus ATCC25722 of the formulation containing AgNPs at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL and 50% v/v of WPU (Formula 4) and the formulation containing AgNPs at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL, chitosan 39 µg/mL and 50% v/v of WPU (Formula 8) from 1 day to 4 months after the coating completely dried was 81.72% ± 3.15% and 82.07% ± 3.01% on E. coli O157:H7, 84.64% ± 2.59% and 83.27% ± 3.12% on S. aureus ATCC25722, respectively. There was no significant difference from statistical analysis at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the quantify of silver ion from coating was measured by ICP-MS. The result reveal that the formulation containing AgNPs at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL, chitosan 39 µg/mL and 50% v/v of WPU (Formula 8) released an amount of silver ion lower than the formulation containing AgNPs at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL and 50% v/v of WPU (Formula 4) by approximately 5.92 times, while the same concentration of AgNPs and inhibition efficacy was not significantly different. In addition, such a concentration was non-toxic on NHDF cells, which were investigated by MTT assay. Therefore, formulation containing AgNPs at a concentration of 1280 µg/mL, chitosan 39 µg/mL and 50% v/v of WPU coating (Formula 8) will be further developed into commercial self-disinfection coatings.
A Fractal, Flower Petal-like CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 Nanocomposite for High Efficiency Supercapacitors
Authors: Ben Gouider Trabelsi Amira , M. Elsayed Asmaa , H. Alkallas Fatemah. , Al-Noaimi Mousa , Kusmartsev F. V. , Rabia Mohamed
Published: November 2022

A fractal, flower petal-like CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 nanocomposite is prepared and applied in a symmetric two-electrode supercapacitor. The preparation of CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 is carried out through the hydrothermal method, in which salts of copper are dissolved and mixed with a suspension of G-C3N4 nanoparticles. A symmetric two-electrode supercapacitor, formed from CuS-CuO/G-C3N4 paste on Au-plates is investigated. The measurements are carried out in diluted 0.5 M HCl, and Whatman filter paper is used as a separator. The supercapacitor electric properties are determined by measuring the charge/discharge, cyclic voltammetry, impedance, and lifetime parameters. An enhancement in the charge/discharge time from 65 to 420 s was recorded while decreasing the current density (J) from 1.0 to 0.3 A/g. The cyclic voltammetry behavior is studied from 50 to 300 mV·s−1, causing a direct increase in the produced J values. The specific capacitance (CS) and energy density (E) values are 370 F/g and 37 W·h·kg−1, respectively. The magnificent properties of the prepared supercapacitor qualify it for industrial applications as an alternative to batteries.
Moore–Gibson–Thompson Stability Model in a Two-Temperature Photonic Semiconductor Excited Medium Affected by Rotation and Initial Stress
Authors: Chteoui Riadh , Lotfy Kh. , Seddeek M. A. , El-Dali A. , Hassanin W. S.
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the two-temperature theory is used to examine a novel model that generalizes the Moore–Gibson–Thompson (MGT) effect according to two-dimensional electronic/thermoelastic deformation. The main equations for a semiconductor medium in the context of the impact of rotation are explained in terms of the impact of the initial hydrostatic stress at the free surface. The normal-mode approach is used to derive the precise formulae for the fundamental physical quantities (i.e., normal displacement, normal load stress, electronic diffusion (carrier density), dynamic and conductive temperature distribution) under the influence of the two-temperature coefficient. The comparison with the base state is performed using linear stability analysis. To make some comparisons based on the various values of thermal memories, the influence of a number of novel parameters is applied to each of our primary physical quantities, such as the rotation parameter and the initial stress. An example of the main fields’ perturbation is also obtained and graphically described.
Effect of Slag Adjustment on Inclusions and Mechanical Properties of Si-Killed 55SiCr Spring Steel
Authors: Li Yang , Chen Changyong , Hu Hao , Yang Hao , Sun Meng , Jiang Zhouhua
Published: November 2022

The effects of the Al2O3 content and basicity of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–10 wt.% MgO refining slag on inclusions removal in 55SiCr spring steel were investigated. The viscosity of slag was studied using a viscometer, while the microstructure investigation involved using a water-quenching furnace and a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer. The influence mechanism of the slag adjustment on inclusions was explored through thermodynamic calculations and kinetic analysis. The results indicated that the viscosity of the molten slag increased gradually with the content of Al2O3 increasing due to it increasing the degree of polymerization of the slag network structure, especially the [AlO4]5− and [Si-O-Si] structures. In contrast, the viscosity of molten slag experienced the opposite pattern, with the basicity of molten slag increasing. This was due to the fact that Ca2+ can significantly reduce the degree of polymerization of a slag network structure, especially the percentages of the [SiO4]4−, [AlO4]5− and [Si-O-Si] network structures. Finally, the changes in physical properties and structure of slag significantly affected the removal effect of the inclusions in molten steel. As a result, the number, size distribution, composition distribution and morphology of the inclusions displayed significant changes when the content of Al2O3 increased from 3 wt.% to 12 wt.% and the basicity of the slag gradually increased from 0.5 to 1.2.
State-of-the-Art Liquid Crystals Research in UK
Authors: Dierking Ingo
Published: November 2022

A number of countries could reasonably produce a collection represented a name such as “State-of-the-Art Research in Liquid Crystals” [...]
Characterization of a Pseudokeronopsis Strain (Ciliophora, Urostylida) and Its Bacterial Endosymbiont “Candidatus Trichorickettsia” (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales)
Authors: Castelli Michele , Serra Valentina , Gammuto Leandro , Senra Marcus V. X. , Modeo Letizia , Petroni Giulio
Published: November 2022

Symbiotic associations between bacteria and ciliate protists are rather common. In particular, several cases were reported involving bacteria of the alphaproteobacterial lineage Rickettsiales, but the diversity, features, and interactions in these associations are still poorly understood. In this work, we characterized a novel ciliate protist strain originating from Brazil and its associated Rickettsiales endosymbiont by means of live and ultrastructural observations, as well as molecular phylogeny. Though with few morphological peculiarities, the ciliate was found to be phylogenetically affiliated with Pseudokeronopsis erythrina, a euryhaline species, which is consistent with its origin from a lagoon with significant spatial and seasonal salinity variations. The bacterial symbiont was assigned to “Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis subsp. hyperinfectiva”, being the first documented case of a Rickettsiales associated with urostylid ciliates. It resided in the host cytoplasm and bore flagella, similarly to many, but not all, conspecifics in other host species. These findings highlight the ability of “Candidatus Trichorickettsia” to infect multiple distinct host species and underline the importance of further studies on this system, in particular on flagella and their regulation, from a functional and also an evolutionary perspective, considering the phylogenetic proximity with the well-studied and non-flagellated Rickettsia.
Nematode and Acanthocephalan Parasites of Confiscated Sunda pangolins, Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822 (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae), with an Updated List of the Parasites of Pangolins
Authors: Barton Diane P. , Martelli Paolo , Worthington Brian M. , Lam Tommy T.-Y. , Zhu Xiaocheng , Shamsi Shokoofeh
Published: November 2022

Background: The Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822, is a critically endangered species of pangolin that occurs from Indonesia to southern China. Knowledge of the biology and ecology of M. javanica is limited, however there have been previous reports of parasites, including nematodes, protozoans, ticks, and a cestode. Methods: An illegal shipment of 88 M. javanica carcasses, originally collected from wild populations throughout southeast Asia, were intercepted by Hong Kong border authorities (AFCD) and confiscated in 2018. Results: During necropsy, two different types of parasites were collected from four infected pangolins. The parasites were identified as the nematode Gendrespirura cf. zschokkei (Meyer, 1896) Chabaud 1958, which were embedded in the stomach wall, and the acanthocephalan, Oligacanthorhynchidae sp., collected from the intestine. Morphological descriptions and molecular characterization for each parasite type is provided. Conclusions: In addition, an updated list of parasites from pangolins, incorporating current taxonomic identifications and publications is presented.
Revision of the Taumacera cervicornis Species Group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) from Sri Lanka
Authors: Bezděk Jan
Published: November 2022

The cervicornis species group of Taumacera Thunberg, 1814, endemic to Sri Lanka, is revised. Seven species, including three species new to science, are recognized: Taumacera cervicornis (Baly, 1861), T. lewisi (Jacoby, 1887), T. mirabilis (Jacoby, 1887), T. unicolor (Jacoby, 1887), T. adamskii sp. nov., T. maskeliya sp. nov., and T. sigiriya sp. nov. The representatives of this group are characterized by pectinate antennomeres and by 12-segmented antennae. Antennomeres XI and XII are firmly fused in most species, separated by a distinct suture; however, in T. cervicornis, antennomere XII appears to be moveable. Color photographs of habitus, body details, and aedeagi as well as female genitalia are presented.
Atrophic Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans with Eosinophilic Infiltration
Authors: Mahboob Anber , Turgeon Claire , Qasim Syeda , Usmani Arif
Published: November 2022

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, locally aggressive spindle cell mesenchymal tumor arising in the dermis, with low metastatic potential. The most commonly affected sites are the trunk and proximal extremities; rarely are acral sites involved. Atrophic DFSP is a rare form of DFSP, that is morphologically different but histologically similar to DFSP. It commonly affects young adults between the ages of 20 to 50 years. The current management strategy for atrophic DFSP is surgical excision with long-term follow-up to detect any recurrence. Only one known case of atrophic DFSP with eosinophilic infiltration is what makes our case an exceptionally rare presentation.
Vehicle to Everything (V2X) and Edge Computing: A Secure Lifecycle for UAV-Assisted Vehicle Network and Offloading with Blockchain
Authors: Khan Abdullah Ayub , Laghari Asif Ali , Shafiq Muhammad , Awan Shafique Ahmed , Gu Zhaoquan
Published: November 2022

Due to globalization and advances in network technology, the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) with edge computing has gained increasingly more attention over the last few years. The technology provides a new paradigm to design interconnected distributed nodes in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted vehicle networks for communications between vehicles in smart cities. The process hierarchy of the current UAV-assisted networks is also becoming more multifaceted as more vehicles are connected, requiring accessing and exchanging information, performing tasks, and updating information securely. This poses serious issues and limitations to centralized UAV-assisted vehicle networks, directly affecting computing-intensive tasks and data offloading. This paper bridges these gaps by providing a novel, transparent, and secure lifecycle for UAV-assisted distributed vehicle communication using blockchain hyperledger technology. A modular infrastructure for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) is designed and ‘B-UV2X’, a blockchain hyperledger fabric-enabled distributed permissioned network-based consortium structure, is proposed. The participating nodes of the vehicle are interconnected with others in the chain of smart cities and exchange different information such as movement, etc., preserving operational logs on the blockchain-enabled immutable ledger. This automates IoV transactions over the proposed UAV-assisted vehicle-enabled consortium network with doppler spread. Thus, for this purpose, there are four different chain codes that are designed and deployed for IoV registration, adding new transactions, updating the ledger, monitoring resource management, and customized multi-consensus of proof-of-work. For lightweight IoV authentication, B-UV2X uses a two-way verification method with the defined hyperledger fabric consensus mechanism. Transaction protection from acquisition to deliverance and storage uses the NuCypher threshold proxy re-encryption mechanism. Simulation results for the proposed B-UV2X show a reduction in network consumption by 12.17% compared to a centralized network system, an increase in security features of up to 9.76%, and a reduction of 7.93% in the computational load for computed log storage.
Uplink Throughput Maximization in UAV-Aided Mobile Networks: A DQN-Based Trajectory Planning Method
Authors: Lu Yuping , Xiong Ge , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Zhifei , Jia Tingyu , Xiong Ke
Published: November 2022

This paper focuses on the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)-aided mobile networks, where multiple ground mobile users (GMUs) desire to upload data to a UAV. In order to maximize the total amount of data that can be uploaded, we formulate an optimization problem to maximize the uplink throughput by optimizing the UAV’s trajectory, under the constraints of the available energy of the UAV and the quality of service (QoS) of GMUs. To solve the non-convex problem, we propose a deep Q-network (DQN)-based method, in which we employ the iterative updating process and the Experience Relay (ER) method to reduce the negative effects sequence correlation on the training results, and the ε-greedy method is applied to balance the exploration and exploitation, for achieving the better estimations of the environment and also taking better actions. Different from previous works, the mobility of the GMUs is taken into account in this work, which is more general and closer to practice. Simulation results show that the proposed DQN-based method outperforms a traditional Q-Learning-based one in terms of both convergence and network throughput. Moreover, the larger battery capacity the UAV has, the higher uplink throughput can be achieved.
A ROS-Based GNC Architecture for Autonomous Surface Vehicle Based on a New Multimission Management Paradigm
Authors: D’Angelo Vincenzo , Folino Paolo , Lupia Marco , Gagliardi Gianfranco , Cario Gianni , Gaccio Francesco Cicchello , Casavola Alessandro
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the design and implementation of BAICal (Intelligent Autonomous Buoy by the University of Calabria), an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) developed at the Autonomous Systems Lab (LASA) of the Department of Computer Science, Modeling, Electronics, and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria. The basic project was born as a research program in marine robotics with multiple applications, either in the sea or in lake/river environments, for data monitoring, search and rescue operations and diver support tasks. Mechanical and hardware designs are discussed by considering a three-degree-of-freedom (3DoF) dynamical model of the vehicle. An extension to the typical guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) software architecture is presented. The software design and the implementation of a manager module (M-GNC architecture) that allows the vehicle to autonomously coordinate missions are described. Indeed, autonomous guidance and movement are only one of several more complex tasks that mobile robots have to perform in a real scenario and that allow a long-term life cycle. Module-based software architecture is developed by using the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework that is suitable for different kinds of autonomous vehicles, such as aerial, ground, surface or underwater drones.
H∞ State-Feedback Control of Multi-Agent Systems with Data Packet Dropout in the Communication Channels: A Markovian Approach
Authors: Stoica Adrian-Mihail , Stoicu Serena Cristiana
Published: November 2022

The paper presents an H∞ type control procedure for multi-agent systems taking into account possible data dropout in the communication network. The data dropout is modelled using a standard homogeneous Markov chain leading to an H∞ type control problem for stochastic multi-agent systems with Markovian jumps. The considered H∞ type criterion includes, besides the components corresponding to the attenuation condition of exogenous disturbance inputs, quadratic terms aiming to acquire the consensus between the agents. It is shown that in the case of identical agents, a state-feedback controller with Markov parameters may be determined solving two specific systems of Riccati equations whose dimension does not depend on the number of agents. Iterative procedures to solve such systems are also presented together with an illustrative numerical example.
The Trade Growth under the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement: An Empirical Assessment
Authors: Cipollina Maria
Published: November 2022

The objective of this paper is an ex-post evaluation of the European Union–Southern African Development Community Economic Partnership Agreement (EU–SADC EPA) stemming from changes in trade flows from the six members of the SADC (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa) to the European Union (EU). The analysis uses detailed import and tariff data at the Harmonized System 6-digit level (HS-6) and provides estimates of the changes in the intensive and extensive margins of trade resulting from tariff reductions, as a consequence of the EU–SADC EPA initiative. The impact on the intensity of trade is estimated using a Difference-in-Differences (DID) estimation, controlling for both country and product-level trade flows. The impact on the trade of new goods (the extensive margin) before and after the agreement is evaluated through a probit analysis. The results show that the EU–SADC EPA has a positive impact on the EU’s imports from the six members of the SADC, even if significant differences emerge among sectors and countries.
The Color Changes in and Termite and Fungal Resistance of Modified Maesopsis eminii Engl. Wood with Boric Acid and Seed Oil
Authors: Priadi Trisna , Kistia Junah , Khanifah Indah Putri , Agustin Tina
Published: November 2022

Manii (Maesopsis minii) is a fast-growing wood that is mainly produced for light construction and woodworking. The wood has low durability properties and requires improvements in quality. This research aims to evaluate the combination effect of boric acid, seed oil, and heating on the color of manii wood and its resistance against subterranean termites and decay fungi. The wood samples were modified by combining boric acid, neem oil, tamanu oil, and candlenut oil and heating at 70 °C and 140 °C for 4 h. The color change in the wood was evaluated using the CIELab method, while the resistance against subterranean termites (Coptotermes curvignathus) and decay fungi (Schizophyllum commune) was tested according to the SNI 7207-2014 standard. The results show that a significant color change occurred after the oil treatments. L and b values generally decreased, while the a values usually slightly increased after treatment. Boric acid significantly increased the resistance of manii wood against tested termites and fungi. The seed oils also improved wood resistance against termites, while the wood resistance against fungi significantly improved from the combination of boric acid and seed oil treatment. The lowest weight loss in termite and fungal tests occurred with the combination of boric acid and candlenut oil with heating at 140 °C.
Improving the Accuracy of Estimating Forest Carbon Density Using the Tree Species Classification Method
Authors: Pang Ziheng , Zhang Gui , Tan Sanqing , Yang Zhigao , Wu Xin
Published: November 2022

The accurate and effective estimation of forest carbon density is an essential basis for effectively responding to climate change and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Aiming at the problem of the significant differences in the forest carbon model parameters of different tree species, this study used the tree forest in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, China, as the study object and used the random forest classification algorithm through the Google Earth Engine platform to classify the dominant tree species within the forested range of the study area based on the image elements. The overall accuracy in the forest/non-forest classification (primary classification) was 93.79% with a Kappa of 0.9145. The overall accuracy in the dominant species classification (secondary classification) was 87.30% with a Kappa of 0.7747. Based on the classification, a multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF) were constructed for different dominant tree species by combining some Forest Resource Inventory data and remote sensing data. The results showed that the RF model had a significantly higher coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.4054–0.7602) than the MLR (R2 = 0.0900–0.4070) and SVM (R2 = 0.1650–0.4450) as well as a substantially lower RMSE and MAE; its spatial distribution of forest carbon density ranged from 3.06 to 62.80 t·hm−2. Compared with the spatial distribution of the forest carbon density (4.64 to 31.96 t·hm−2) without the classification of dominant species, the method eliminated the problems of severe overfitting and significant underestimation of peak values when estimating under unclassified conditions. The method provides a reference for the remote sensing inversion of forest carbon density on a large scale.
Effects of the Root System Architecture of Pinus taeda and Phyllostachys edulis on the Index of Hydrological Connectivity in Subtropical Forest Ecosystems
Authors: Zhang Wenqi , Wang Lu , Tang Zhiying , Zhang Yinghu
Published: November 2022

The hydrological connectivity below the soil surface can influence the forest structure and function, especially soil and plant productivity. However, few studies have determined the changes in the hydrological connectivity below the soil surface with increasing soil depth and have quantified the effects of root systems on the hydrological connectivity in forest ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the index of the hydrological connectivity (IHC) below the soil surface using a field dye tracing method and compared the difference in the index of hydrological connectivity in two subtropical forest stands (i.e., pine trees [SS] and bamboo [ZL]). We analyzed the interactions between the parameters of root system architecture and the index of hydrological connectivity. Back propagation (BP) neural networks were used to quantify which parameter can contribute the most relative importance to the changes of the IHC. The results revealed that the maximum value of the index of hydrological connectivity occurs at the soil surface, and it exhibits a non-linear decreasing trend with increasing soil depth. The parameters of root system architecture (root length, root projected area, root surface area, root volume, and root biomass) were rich in the top soil layers (0–20 cm) in the two sites. Those parameters were positively correlated with the IHC and the root length had the largest positive influence on the hydrological connectivity. Furthermore, we found that root system architecture with different root diameters had different degrees of influence on the index of hydrological connectivity. The very fine root systems (0 < D < 1 mm) had the greatest effect on the hydrological connectivity (p < 0.01). The results of this study provide more information for the assessment of the hydrological connectivity below the soil surface and a better understanding of the effects of root systems in soil hydrology within the rhizosphere.
Responses of Ecosystem Services to Climate Change: A Case Study of the Loess Plateau
Authors: Jing Peiqing , Zhang Donghai , Ai Zemin , Wu Haojie , Zhang Dingming , Ren Honghong , Suo Liang
Published: November 2022

Exploring the responses of ecosystem services to climate change is an essential prerequisite for understanding the global climate change impact on terrestrial ecosystems and their modeling. This study first evaluated the ecosystem services including net primary productivity (NPP), soil conservation (SC) and water yield (WY), and climate factors including precipitation, temperature, and solar radiation from 2000 to 2020 on the Loess Plateau, and then analyzed their relationships and threshold effects. The results found that precipitation in the region had significantly increased since 2000 while solar radiation decreased; mean annual temperature however did not change significantly. NPP and SC showed an increasing trend while WY showed a decreasing trend. The most significant climate factor affecting ESs was precipitation. With the increase of precipitation, all three types of ecosystem services showed a significant increasing trend, but the facilitating effect for NPP and WY began to be weakened when precipitation reached the thresholds of 490 mm and 600 mm, respectively. This occurred because in regions with already sufficient precipitation to support NPP there is limited capacity for NPP to increase compared to areas of arid grasslands. In these regions, high vegetation cover leads to increased evapotranspiration which reduces the positive influence of increasing precipitation on WY. The results can offer a reference for the level of ecological restoration success.
Green Methane as a Future Fuel for Light-Duty Vehicles
Authors: Byun Jaewon , Han Jeehoon
Published: November 2022

Food waste (FW) has traditionally been disposed by incineration or landfilling; however, it can be converted to green methane (GM) via anaerobic digestion, and GM can be used as fuel for light-duty natural gas vehicles (LDNGVs). A lifecycle assessment (LCA) of FW-based GM production and LDNGV operation in China, a new scenario, was performed. The LCA results were compared with those for the conventional FW treatment, where a “well-to-wheel” system boundary including FW collection, GM production from FW, and vehicle manufacturing, operation, and disposal was defined. The LCA results showed that the global warming impacts of the new FW scenario are 44.3% lower than those of the conventional option. The fine particulate matter formation impact of the new FW scenario was dominated by the displacement effect of electricity supply to anaerobic digestion, followed by CO2 adsorption by the primary source. The sensitivity analysis showed that hydroelectric power as the best primary source for electricity supply could substantially reduce both global warming and FRS in the new scenario. In the short term, the proposed FW scenario could be a feasible option for achieving sustainable society by minimizing environmental impacts of FW treatment.
Effects of Starter Cultures and Type of Casings on the Microbial Features and Volatile Profile of Fermented Sausages
Authors: Montanari Chiara , Barbieri Federica , Gardini Gabriele , Magnani Rudy , Gottardi Davide , Gardini Fausto , Tabanelli Giulia
Published: November 2022

In the literature, the effect of the type of casing on fermented sausages is quite unexplored, while several studies are focused on the impact of starter cultures. Therefore, this paper studied the effect of three commercial starter cultures and two casings (natural or collagen) on Italian fermented sausages. Physico-chemical parameters (aw, pH, weight loss), microbiota, aroma profile and sensory analysis were evaluated. Results showed that collagen casings promoted a higher reduction of pH and weight loss. Concerning the microbiota, samples with natural casing had higher counts of lactic acid bacteria, while yeast proliferation was promoted in those with collagen. Regardless of the starters and casings applied, levels of enterococci and Enterobacteriaceae were low (≤2 log CFU/g). The aroma profile was significantly affected by casing: despite the starter applied, the presence of collagen casing favoured acid accumulation (mainly acetate and butanoate) and reduction of ketones. Sensory analysis highlighted significant differences only for odour, colour intensity and sourness. The differences observed suggest that collagen casings may provide a greater availability of oxygen. Overall, casings rather than starter cultures impact the microbial and sensorial features of fermented sausages.
Integrating ISA and Part-of Domain Knowledge into Process Model Discovery
Authors: Bottrighi Alessio , Guazzone Marco , Leonardi Giorgio , Montani Stefania , Striani Manuel , Terenziani Paolo
Published: November 2022

The traces of process executions are a strategic source of information, from which a model of the process can be mined. In our recent work, we have proposed SIM (semantic interactive miner), an innovative process mining tool to discover the process model incrementally: it supports the interaction with domain experts, who can selectively merge parts of the model to achieve compactness, generalization, and reduced redundancy. We now propose a substantial extension of SIM, making it able to exploit (both automatically and interactively) pre-encoded taxonomic knowledge about the refinement (ISA relations) and composition (part-of relations) of process activities, as is available in many domains. The extended approach allows analysts to move from a process description where activities are reported at the ground level to more user-interpretable/compact descriptions, in which sets of such activities are abstracted into the “macro-activities” subsuming them or constituted by them. An experimental evaluation based on a real-world setting (stroke management) illustrates the advantages of our approach.
Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens Regan) Gut Microbiota Associated with Age and Gender
Authors: Gruneck Lucsame , Jinatham Vasana , Therdtatha Phatthanaphong , Popluechai Siam
Published: November 2022

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan) is a popular ornamental fish in Thailand. Growing research suggests that fish health is influenced by gut microbiota. Here, we investigated, for the first time, the differences in the gut microbiota profiles of healthy Siamese fighting fish during the young (8-week-old) and adult male and female (16-week-old and 24-week-old) life stages using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The fish were raised in controlled water quality conditions and fed on Moina macrocopa. Profiling of gut microbial communities revealed significant differences in the overall bacterial profile between young and adult Siamese fighting fish. Bacterial diversity decreased in the 24-week-old adult fish. Proteobacteria was the most predominant bacterial phylum in the gut of both young and adult carnivorous betta fish, in which the abundance of its members varied with age. Plesiomonas was enriched in male fish aged 24 weeks, whereas Pseudomonas dominated the gut of 8-week-old fish. Moreover, differences in predicted functions of these Proteobacteria between the young and adult fish could be a key target for improving fish growth. These findings expand our understanding of the role of gut microbiota and its association with host factors.
The North Sea and Svalbard Fisheries Management Regimes in the Context of Brexit: Divergence and Implications
Authors: Chen Yitong , Wang Yinan
Published: November 2022

The North Sea fishery has maintained sound and stable cooperative management over the past four decades. European Union (EU) countries exchange quotas with Norway for fish stocks in their respective fisheries jurisdictions within the framework of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (EU CFP) and the Agreement on Fisheries between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Norway. After beginning the Brexit process with a concomitant transitional arrangement, the United Kingdom remained in the EU CFP until the end of 2020. From 2021 onward, the United Kingdom became a completely independent coastal state outside the EU CFP framework. In this context, the long-standing and stable fisheries access and quota exchange system between Norway and the EU will face tensions. The differences among the United Kingdom, the EU and Norway in fisheries also involve quotas and access to the Svalbard Protection Zone. Norway even intends to expand the fisheries conflict to the Arctic Council. To prevent the adverse consequences of conflict spillover and to achieve sustainable development of fisheries and win–win cooperation in fisheries management, the United Kingdom, the EU and Norway launched a series of actions on fisheries issues. In tripartite negotiations, each party has its advantages. Ultimately, win–win cooperation in the fisheries game is the three parties’ expected outcome.
Hydrogel-Based Biosensors
Authors: Völlmecke Katharina , Afroz Rowshon , Bierbach Sascha , Brenker Lee Josephine , Frücht Sebastian , Glass Alexandra , Giebelhaus Ryland , Hoppe Axel , Kanemaru Karen , Lazarek Michal , Rabbe Lukas , Song Longfei , Velasco Suarez Andrea , Wu Shuang , Serpe Michael , Kuckling Dirk
Published: November 2022

There is an increasing interest in sensing applications for a variety of analytes in aqueous environments, as conventional methods do not work reliably under humid conditions or they require complex equipment with experienced operators. Hydrogel sensors are easy to fabricate, are incredibly sensitive, and have broad dynamic ranges. Experiments on their robustness, reliability, and reusability have indicated the possible long-term applications of these systems in a variety of fields, including disease diagnosis, detection of pharmaceuticals, and in environmental testing. It is possible to produce hydrogels, which, upon sensing a specific analyte, can adsorb it onto their 3D-structure and can therefore be used to remove them from a given environment. High specificity can be obtained by using molecularly imprinted polymers. Typical detection principles involve optical methods including fluorescence and chemiluminescence, and volume changes in colloidal photonic crystals, as well as electrochemical methods. Here, we explore the current research utilizing hydrogel-based sensors in three main areas: (1) biomedical applications, (2) for detecting and quantifying pharmaceuticals of interest, and (3) detecting and quantifying environmental contaminants in aqueous environments.
A Self-Assembling Peptide as a Model for Detection of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wan Yuan , Luo Ruyue , Chen Jialei , Luo Xinyi , Liu Guicen , Su Di , Lu Na , Liu Qichen , Luo Zhongli
Published: November 2022

Patient-derived organoid (PDO) models have been widely used in precision medicine. The inability to standardize organoid creation in pre-clinical models has become apparent. The common mouse-derived extracellular matrix can no longer meet the requirements for the establishment of PDO models. Therefore, in order to develop effective methods for 3D cultures of organoids, we designed a self-assembling peptide, namely DRF3, which can be self-assembled into ordered fibrous scaffold structures. Here, we used the co-assembly of self-assembling peptide (SAP) and collagen type I, fibronectin, and laminin (SAP-Matrix) to co-simulate the extracellular matrix, which significantly reduced the culture time of PDO, improved the culture efficiency, and increased the self-assembly ability of cells. Compared with the results from the 2D cell line, the PDO showed a more significant expression of cancer-related genes. During organoid self-assembly, the expression of cancer-related genes is increased. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of precision molecular modeling platforms in the future.
Smart-Temporary-Film-Based Local-Delivery System with Controllable Drug-Release Behavior
Authors: Xie Denghang , Wang Huiwen , Yin Cheng , Peng Mengxia , Ao Haiyong , Hu Jian , Wan Yizao , Zhang Quanchao
Published: November 2022

The development of a simple local drug-delivery system that exhibits the advantages of macro- and microscale carriers with controllable drug-release behavior is still highly desired. Herein, in this work, a smart temporary film was prepared from doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded shape-memory microgels via a simple hot-compression programming method. The temporary film showed a very smooth surface and easy handing, as well as macroscopy mechanical properties, which could disintegrate into the microgels with heating at 45 °C. In this case, the temporary film showed a controllable DOX release behavior when compared with the microgels, which could release the DOX on demand. Consequently, the temporary film exhibited weaker cytotoxicity to normal cells and a much longer antitumor capability, as well as a higher drug-utilization efficiency when compared with microgels. Therefore, the smart temporary film has high potential as a candidate for use as a local drug-delivery system.
Chia Seed Hydrogel as a Solid Fat Replacer and Structure Forming Agent in Gluten-Free Cookies
Authors: Tomić Jelena , Škrobot Dubravka , Dapčević-Hadnađev Tamara , Maravić Nikola , Rakita Slađana , Hadnađev Miroslav
Published: November 2022

Gluten-free cookies based on rice and chickpea flour with reduced-fat and increased protein content compared with conventional commercial gluten-free cookies were developed and used as a base for further vegetable fat replacement with chia seed hydrogel. Rheological properties of chia seed hydrogel revealed that 8% gels exhibited the optimal properties as a fat substitute. Designed cookie samples were characterized for their chemical composition, fatty acid profile, mineral content, physical, textural and color parameters, and sensory properties. All gluten-free cookies developed in this study could be labeled as “a source of iron and potassium”, while those with chia seed hydrogel and cocoa powder could bear the additional claim “high in zinc and magnesium”. Fat replacement with chia seed hydrogel resulted in a more favorable fatty acid composition with a PUFA/SFA ratio over 0.40 and nonsignificant changes in the cookies’ hardness, weight, eccentricity, and specific volume, indicating that the chia seed hydrogel addition did not disturb the cookie structure and texture. The results of the sensory analysis confirmed that it is possible to apply chia seed hydrogel to produce reduced-fat cookies with sensory properties comparable to their full-fat counterpart and available commercial samples, and they are more appealing than commercial reduced-fat gluten-free cookies.
Advancements in Hydrogel Application for Ischemic Stroke Therapy
Authors: Bai Ying , Han Bing , Zhang Yi , Zhang Yuan , Cai Yang , Shen Ling , Jia Yanpeng
Published: November 2022

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. There is almost no effective treatment for this disease. Therefore, developing effective treatment for ischemic stroke is urgently needed. Efficient delivery of therapeutic drugs to ischemic sites remained a great challenge for improved treatment of strokes. In recent years, hydrogel-based strategies have been widely investigated for new and improved therapies. They have the advantage of delivering therapeutics in a controlled manner to the poststroke sites, aiming to enhance the intrinsic repair and regeneration. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of stroke and the development of injectable hydrogels in the application of both stroke treatment and neural tissue engineering. We also discuss the prospect and the challenges of hydrogels in the treatment of ischemic strokes.
Five Species of Taxus Karyotype Based on Oligo-FISH for 5S rDNA and (AG3T3)3
Authors: He Zhoujian , Luo Xiaomei , Lei Yuting , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2022

As a relict plant, Taxus is used in a variety of medicinal ingredients, for instance to treat a variety of cancers. Taxus plants are difficult to distinguish from one another due to their similar morphology; indeed, some species of Taxus cytogenetic data still are unclear. Oligo-FISH can rapidly and efficiently provide insight into the genetic composition and karyotype. This is important for understanding the organization and evolution of chromosomes in Taxus species. We analysed five Taxus species using two oligonucleotide probes. (AG3T3)3 signals were distributed at the chromosome ends and the centromere of five species of Taxus. The 5S rDNA signal was displayed on two chromosomes of five species of Taxus. In addition to Taxus wallichiana var. mairei, 5S rDNA signals were found proximal in the remaining four species, which signals a difference in its location. The karyotype formula of Taxus wallichiana was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 55.56%, and its arm ratio was 3.0087. Taxus × media’s karyotype formula was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 55.09%, and its arm ratio was 3.4198. The karyotype formula of Taxus yunnanensis was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 55.56%, and its arm ratio was 2.6402. The karyotype formula of Taxus cuspidate was 2n = 2x = 24m, its karyotype asymmetry index was 54.67%, its arm ratio was 3.0135, and two chromosomes exhibited the 5S rDNA signal. The karyotype formula of T. wallichiana var. mairei was 2n= 2x = 22m + 2sm, its karyotype asymmetry index was 54.33%, and its arm ratio was 2.8716. Our results provide the karyotype analysis and physical genetic map of five species of Taxus, which contributes to providing molecular cytogenetics data for Taxus.
In Vivo Hematopoietic Stem Cell Genome Editing: Perspectives and Limitations
Authors: Psatha Nikoletta , Paschoudi Kiriaki , Papadopoulou Anastasia , Yannaki Evangelia
Published: November 2022

The tremendous evolution of genome-editing tools in the last two decades has provided innovative and effective approaches for gene therapy of congenital and acquired diseases. Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator- like effector nucleases (TALENs) and CRISPR-Cas9 have been already applied by ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy in genetic diseases (i.e., Hemoglobinopathies, Fanconi anemia and hereditary Immunodeficiencies) as well as infectious diseases (i.e., HIV), and the recent development of CRISPR-Cas9-based systems using base and prime editors as well as epigenome editors has provided safer tools for gene therapy. The ex vivo approach for gene addition or editing of HSCs, however, is complex, invasive, technically challenging, costly and not free of toxicity. In vivo gene addition or editing promise to transform gene therapy from a highly sophisticated strategy to a “user-friendly’ approach to eventually become a broadly available, highly accessible and potentially affordable treatment modality. In the present review article, based on the lessons gained by more than 3 decades of ex vivo HSC gene therapy, we discuss the concept, the tools, the progress made and the challenges to clinical translation of in vivo HSC gene editing.