bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Nexus between Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Electricity Access, Governance and Human Development: Evidence from Asia-Pacific Countries
Authors: Nipo Debbra Toria , Lily Jaratin , Idris Sidah , Pinjaman Saizal , Bujang Imbarine
Published: February 2023

The Asia-Pacific region has recorded the sharpest increase in human development progress globally and has seen shrinking gaps in basic standards and capabilities. However, inequalities around technology remain a cause for concern for the region, especially when countries with lower human development reportedly have limited access to technologies compared to countries with higher human development. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of information and communication technology (ICT), electricity access, and governance on human development in the Asia-Pacific region. A panel dataset of 46 countries from 2010 to 2019 was estimated using the Driscoll–Kraay standard error regression approach. Our findings revealed that ICT has a strong positive impact on human development for countries with high and medium human development. Internet usage is particularly significantly correlated with human development for both country groups, while mobile cellular subscriptions emerged as significant only for countries with high human development. The study also revealed significant positive effects of electricity access and governance on human development. The findings suggest that increased ICT adoption and electricity access, coupled with good governance, are crucial in improving people’s quality of life, thereby promoting greater human development. Limitations of the study include omission of the low human development group and a limited number of indicators used to measure ICT and governance.
Digital Competence of Training Teachers: Results of a Teaching Innovation Project
Authors: Gabarda Méndez Vicente , Marín-Suelves Diana , Vidal-Esteve María Isabel , Ramón-Llin Jesús
Published: February 2023

Today’s society is characterised by the impact of technology in all areas of life, which is why promoting the development of digital competence in future preschool and primary school teachers is key to achieving a digitally competent population and promoting social progress from schools. This paper describes the implementation of a funded teaching innovation project developed with students of the Degrees in Preschool Education and Primary School Education at the University of Valencia, Spain. The main objective was the development of digital competence from a cross-cutting perspective. The analyses confirm the improvement of the participants in all areas of digital competence and the influence of gender on the results obtained. This highlights the impact of the intervention for the improvement of technological skills for future teachers.
Industry 4.0-Based Framework for Real-Time Prediction of Output Power of Multi-Emitter Laser Modules during the Assembly Process
Authors: Markatos Nikolaos Grigorios , Mousavi Alireza , Pippione Giulia , Paoletti Roberto
Published: February 2023

The challenges of defects in manufacturing and assembly processes in optoelectronic industry continue to persist. Defective products cause increased time to completion (cycle time), energy consumption, cost, and loss of precious material. A complex laser assembly process is studied with the aim of minimising the generation of defective laser modules. Subsequently, relevant data were gathered to investigate machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to predict the output beam power of the module during the assembly process. The assembly process was divided into a number of chain steps, where we implemented a bespoke framework of hybrid feature selection method alongside artificial neural networks (ANNs) to formulate the statistical inferences. A review of existing learning methods in manufacturing and assembly processes enabled us to select XGBoost and random forest regression (RFR) as the two methods to be compared with ANN, based on their capabilities; ANN outperformed both of them, as it avoided overfitting and scored similar test metrics in the majority of the assembly steps. The results of the proposed solution have been validated in a real production dataset, even showing good predictive capability in the early steps of the assembly process where the available information is limited. Furthermore, the transferability of the framework was validated by applying the proposed framework to another product that follows a similar assembly process. The results indicated that the proposed framework has the potential to serve as the foundation for further research on laser modules’ sophisticated and multi-step assembly lines.
Preparation and Characterization of n-Octadecane@SiO2/GO and n-Octadecane@SiO2/Ag Nanoencapsulated Phase Change Material for Immersion Cooling of Li-Ion Battery
Authors: Gu Jianhao , Du Jiajie , Li Yuxin , Li Jinpei , Chen Longfei , Chai Yan , Li Yongli
Published: February 2023

Nanoencapsulated phase change materials (NePCMs) are promising thermal energy storage (TES) and heat transfer materials that show great potential in battery thermal management systems (BTMSs). In this work, nanocapsules with a paraffin core and silica shell were prepared using an optimized sol-gel method. The samples were characterized by different methods regarding chemical composition, thermal properties, etc. Then, the nanocapsules were used as the coolant by mixing with insulation oil in the immersion cooling of a simulative battery. The sample doped with Ag on the shell with a core-to-shell ratio of 1:1 showed the best performance. Compared to the sample without doping material, the thermal conductivity increased by 49%, while the supercooling degree was reduced by 35.6%. The average temperature of the simulative battery cooled by nanocapsule slurries decreased by up to 3.95 °C compared to the test performed with pure insulation oil as the coolant. These novel nanocapsules show great potential in the immersion cooling of a battery.
Hosting Capacity of Electric Vehicles on LV/MV Distribution Grids—A New Methodology Assessment
Authors: Carmelito Bruno Eduardo , Filho José Maria de Carvalho
Published: February 2023

The need to evolve cleaner, decentralized, and digitalized energy distribution systems and services includes the electrification of means of transport as Electric Vehicles (EVs) achieve a greater market share. In this context, this work presents and applies, through a case study, the proposal of a new methodology for calculating the hosting capacity of EVs in low- and medium-voltage distribution systems. The proposal of a new methodology that combines deterministic and stochastic methods, while considering several operational criteria, as well as being applicable in both low and medium voltage, shows itself as a more germane and innovate approach. The results obtained demonstrated that the hosting capacity of EVs for the transformers pertinent to the distribution system under study is 100% for more than 50% of the simulations performed. The conductor overload criterion is the main limiting factor, representing 36.69% of violations for the 3.6 kW charger and 52.14% for the 7 kW charger. According to the executed evaluated projections, the distribution system under investigation will posses the capacity to host the growth of EVs in any of the scenarios presented in this study until 2025 for the 3.6 kW charger.
Transboundary Water Governance Scholarship: A Critical Review
Authors: Varady Robert G. , Albrecht Tamee R. , Modak Sayanangshu , Wilder Margaret O. , Gerlak Andrea K.
Published: February 2023

Governing and managing the allocation and use of freshwater has always been a complex and fraught undertaking. The challenges to effective and equitable management have been exacerbated by rising pressures on supplies caused by such drivers as population growth, urbanization and climate change. Moreover, vast quantities of water straddle international and other boundaries—four-fifths of the world’s largest river basins and hundreds of aquifers span such borders. This further complicates management and governance, which is subject to disparate legal, political, administrative, financial, cultural and diplomatic conditions. Recognition in the literature and in practice of ‘transboundariness’ dates to the 1970s and has grown since. The authors trace the evolution of transboundary water scholarship and identify five framings used in transboundary water governance and management: conflict and cooperation; hydropolitics; hydrodiplomacy; scale; and disciplinary approaches. Transboundary water management initiatives can be viewed through three broad strands: interventions, advancements in governance strategies and democratization of data and information for strengthening science–policy interaction. The authors close with a discussion of future directions for transboundary water governance and management, emphasizing the need for additional research on how to deal with climate-related and other mounting challenges.
DNA Methylation Is a Potential Biomarker for Cardiometabolic Health in Mexican Children and Adolescents
Authors: Aljahdali Abeer A. , Goodrich Jaclyn M. , Dolinoy Dana C. , Kim Hyungjin M. , Ruiz-Narváez Edward A. , Baylin Ana , Cantoral Alejandra , Torres-Olascoaga Libni A. , Téllez-Rojo Martha M. , Peterson Karen E.
Published: February 2023

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a plausible mechanism underlying cardiometabolic abnormalities, but evidence is limited among youth. This analysis included 410 offspring of the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) birth cohort followed up to two time points in late childhood/adolescence. At Time 1, DNAm was quantified in blood leukocytes at long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1), H19, and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD-2), and at Time 2 in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α). At each time point, cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed including lipid profiles, glucose, blood pressure, and anthropometry. Linear mixed effects models were used for LINE-1, H19, and 11β-HSD-2 to account for the repeated-measure outcomes. Linear regression models were conducted for the cross-sectional association between PPAR-α with the outcomes. DNAm at LINE-1 was associated with log glucose at site 1 [β = −0.029, p = 0.0006] and with log high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at site 3 [β = 0.063, p = 0.0072]. 11β-HSD-2 DNAm at site 4 was associated with log glucose (β = −0.018, p = 0.0018). DNAm at LINE-1 and 11β-HSD-2 was associated with few cardiometabolic risk factors among youth in a locus-specific manner. These findings underscore the potential for epigenetic biomarkers to increase our understanding of cardiometabolic risk earlier in life.
Socio-Economic Benefits of Colophospermum mopane in a Changing Climate in Northern Namibia
Authors: Nikodemus Andreas , Abdollahnejad Azadeh , Kapuka Alpo , Panagiotidis Dimitrios , Hájek Miroslav
Published: February 2023

Millions of local communities in southern Africa depend on forest ecosystems and the goods and services they provide for their livelihoods. This paper aims to assess the socio-economic benefits of forest goods and services in a changing climate by focusing on the forest products of Colophospermum mopane (C. mopane) in the Kunene and Omusati regions in northern Namibia. We used C. mopane product data from 2011 to 2021. Our analyses showed that local communities harvested five main products from C. mopane, namely firewood, poles, droppers, rafters, and roots. Firewood and poles were the primary C. mopane products harvested by local communities, mainly for subsistence use. Our results suggest that C. mopane potentially continues to the provision of goods and services for the livelihood of local communities, despite the changing climate in northern Namibia. We propose future studies in predictive analysis focus on extreme weather events, such as forest fires, droughts, floods, and other climate-related hazards that affect goods and services provided by forest ecosystems in the northern regions and the entire country.
A Functional Trait-Based Approach to Evaluate the Resilience of Key Ecosystem Functions of Tropical Savannas
Authors: Dendoncker Morgane , Taugourdeau Simon , Messier Christian , Vincke Caroline
Published: February 2023

The persistence of the woody vegetation of the Sahelian savannas, and their supported ecosystem functions, have been questioned since the great drought of 1970s–1980s. To assess the resilience of this vegetation to drought and grazing, we undertook a trait-based approach using field inventory, historical survey databases, and traits data literature. Using a hierarchical clustering approach, we gathered the species present from 1970 to 2015 into functional groups according to their effect traits related to primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles. First, we studied the evolution of functional redundancy (FRe) and response diversity (RDiv) of the functional effect groups to drought and grazing, two indicators of resilience, since the 1970s. Second, we looked at the spatial variation of these two indices in 2015, according to local topography. FRe and RDiv of 80% of the functional groups examined declined since 1970, endangering the persistence of the studied functions. Local topography strongly influenced current FRe and RDiv, with depressions presenting higher values. Finally, by examining species’ abundances, their regeneration, and the functional group to which they belong, we determined some key species that could benefit from protection to ensure the persistence of the ecosystem functions supported by the woody vegetation. This study has expanded knowledge about the savanna’s response to pressures and has shown how a functional traits-based approach could be an effective tool to guide the management of tropical savannas.
Multi-Feature-Based Identification of Subtropical Evergreen Tree Species Using Gaofen-2 Imagery and Algorithm Comparison
Authors: Yuan Jiayu , Wu Zhiwei , Li Shun , Kang Ping , Zhu Shihao
Published: February 2023

The species and distribution of trees in a forest are critical to the understanding of forest ecosystem processes and the development of forest management strategies. Subtropical forest landscapes feature a complex canopy structure and high stand density. Studies on the effects of classification algorithms on the remote sensing-based identification of tree species are few. GF-2 is the first satellite in China with sub-meter accuracy which has the high resolution and short replay cycle. Here, we considered three representative tree types (Masson pine, Chinese fir, and broadleaved evergreen trees) in the southern subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest region of China as research objects. We quantitatively compared the effects of five machine learning algorithms, including the backpropagation neural network, k-nearest neighbour, polytomous logistic regression, random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM), and four features (vegetation index, band reflectance, textural features, and topographic factors) on tree species identification using Gaofen-2 panchromatic and multispectral remote sensing images and field survey data. All five classification algorithms could effectively identify major tree species in subtropical forest areas (overall accuracy [OA] > 87.40%, kappa coefficient > 81.08%). The SVM model exhibited the best identification ability (OA = 90.27%, kappa coefficient = 85.37%), followed by RF (OA = 88.90%, Kappa coefficient = 83.30%). The combination of band reflectance, vegetation index, and the topographic factor performed exhibited the best, followed by the combination of band reflectance, vegetation index, textural feature, and topographic factor. In addition, we find that the classifier constructed by a single feature is not as effective as the combination of multiple feature factors. The addition of topographic factors can significantly improve the ability of tree species identification. According to the results of the five classifiers, the separability of the three tree species was good. The producer’s accuracy and user’s accuracy of Masson pine were more than 90%, and the evergreen broad-leaved tree and Chinese fir were more than 80%. The commission errors and omission errors of the three tree species were evergreen broadleaved tree > Chinese fir > Masson pine. The variable importance assessment results showed that the normalized difference greenness index, altitude, and the modified soil-adjusted vegetation index were the key variables. The results of this study used GF-2 to accurately identify the main tree species of subtropical evergreen forests in China, which can help forest managers to regularly monitor tree species composition and provide theoretical support for forest managers to formulate policies, monitor sustainable plans for wood mining, and forest conservation and management measures.
Spatial and Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover in the Three North Protection Forest Project Area Supported by GEE Cloud Platform
Authors: Li Xusheng , Hai Quansheng , Zhu Zhenchang , Zhang Donghui , Shao Yakui , Zhao Yingjun , Li Hu , Vandansambuu Battsengel , Ning Xiaoli , Chen Donghua , Liu Yufeng
Published: February 2023

The alterations in vegetation cover in the Three North Protection Forest Project area influence its ecological and environmental management. It helps to study soil erosion, environmental change, and ecosystem protection to provide basic data support. Based on the Google Earth Engine cloud platform, this paper selects MODIS 3Q1 data from 2000–2020 and uses the image element dichotomous model to estimate the fractional vegetation cover (FVC) of the Three North Protection Forest Project area, evaluates the stability and temporal and spatial variation of FVC, investigates the coupling relationship between the FVC and temperature and rainfall through evaluation indexes such as the slope of inter-annual variation and partial correlation coefficient, and then analyzes the influence of land use changes on the FVC. The results show that the fractional vegetation cover of the Three North Protection Forest Project area as a whole has increased significantly over the past 20 years, the medium and high vegetation coverage areas have reached 36.4%, the high vegetation FVC has increased from 20.66% in 2000 to 21.59% in 2020, and the vegetation activity is increasing. The vegetation cover is significantly affected by the topographic effect, with the vegetation cover improving relatively well at slopes between 5–13° and elevations ranging from 2000–2500 m. The overall positive correlation between vegetation and temperature and vegetation and precipitation in the study area was 54.08% and 70.04%, respectively, and precipitation was the key factor influencing vegetation growth in the research region. Human activities have a stronger effect on vegetation construction than destruction, and this study contributes to the evaluation of the benefits of the Three North Protection Forest Project and the understanding of human influence on environmental change.
Characterization of Nero Antico di Pretalucente Wine and Grape Fungal Microbiota: An Expression of Abruzzo Region Cultivar Heritage
Authors: Perpetuini Giorgia , Rossetti Alessio Pio , Giordano Lucia , Pulcini Marta , Dufrusine Beatrice , Battistelli Noemi , Zulli Camillo , Arfelli Giuseppe , Palliotti Alberto , Dainese Enrico , Tofalo Rosanna
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to characterize the ampelographic and genetic profiles of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Nero Antico di Pretalucente and to describe the grape-borne fungal communities. The oenological characteristics and the aroma profile of wine obtained by spontaneous fermentation were also investigated. Microsatellite profiles and ampelographic traits indicated that this cultivar presented a unique profile, and therefore it can be considered a cultivar in its own right and autochthonous of Gessopalena village. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed that Aureobasidium spp. was the main genus detected on grapes. At the species level, Aureobasidium pullulans was the main species, followed by Alternaria alternata. Wines were characterized by a final ethanol content of 12.75% (v/v), a pH of 3.4, a volatile acidity lower than 0.6 g/L, a content of glycerol of 8.56 g/L, and a concentration of polyphenols and anthocyanins of 977 GAE/L and 266 mg/L, respectively. The intensity and tonality of the wine as well as the active odor compounds found were described. The results obtained could improve the knowledge concerning the agronomic traits and the wine obtained from this ancient and autochthonous grapevine variety cultivated in a foothill area, in order to offer consumers a wine with unique traits.
Thermal Convection of an Ellis Fluid Saturating a Porous Layer with Constant Heat Flux Boundary Conditions
Authors: Brandão Pedro Vayssière , Celli Michele , Barletta Antonio , Lazzari Stefano
Published: February 2023

The present work analyzes the thermal instability of mixed convection in a horizontal porous channel that is saturated by a shear-thinning fluid following Ellis’ rheology. The fluid layer is heated from below by a constant heat flux and cooled from above by the same heat flux. The instability of such a system is investigated by means of a small-disturbances analysis and the resulting eigenvalue problem is solved numerically by means of a shooting method. It is demonstrated that the most unstable modes on the instability threshold are those with infinite wavelength and an analytical expression for such conditions is derived from an asymptotic analysis. Results show that the non-Newtonian character of the fluid has a destabilizing role.
The Potential Use of Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil By-Product as an Alternative Source in the Production of Plant-Based Drink and Plant-Based Low-Fat Ice Cream: The Rheological, Thermal, and Sensory Properties of Plant-Based Ice Cream
Authors: Kasapoglu Muhammed , Sagdic Osman , Avci Esra , Tekin-Cakmak Zeynep , Karasu Salih , Turker Rabia
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to investigate the potential use of cold-pressed coconut oil by-products (COB) as a low-cost alternative source for plant-based drink and ice cream production. Firstly, a plant-based drink was produced from cold-pressed coconut oil by-products (COB drink) and compared with a commercial coconut drink. The fat, protein, and zeta potential values of coconut drink obtained from COB were higher than those of the commercial samples. In addition, the particle size value of the drink obtained from COB was found to be lower than that of the commercial drink. In the second stage, full-fat and low-fat plant-based ice cream samples using COB drink were produced and compared to control ice cream samples (produced by the commercial coconut drink) in terms of rheological, sensorial, and thermal properties. Rheological analysis showed that all plant-based ice cream samples indicated pseudoplastic, solid-like, and recoverable characteristics. Low-fat commercial control ice cream samples (C1) indicated the lowest K value (9.05 Pasn), whereas the low-fat plant-based ice cream sample produced by the COB drink (COB-3) exhibited the highest K value (17.69 Pasn). ΔHf values of the plant-based ice cream samples varied from 144.70 J/g to 172.70 J/g. The low-fat COB ice cream stabilized with 3% COB and full-fat COB ice cream samples showed lower ΔHf values than control ice cream samples, indicating that the COB ice cream showed desired thermal properties. The COB drink may be utilized in plant-based ice cream without altering sensory qualities, and low-fat ice cream could be manufactured in the same manner to attain full-fat ice cream quality characteristics. The results of this study demonstrated that COB can be successfully used as an inexpensive raw material source in the production of full-fat and reduced-fat vegetable-based ice cream.
Effects of Pulsed Pressure Curing on Beef Quality
Authors: Li Chuang , Shi Jiyong , Zhai Xiaodong , Yang Zhikun , Huang Xiaowei , Li Zhihua , Li Yanxiao , Zou Xiaobo
Published: February 2023

The study was proposed to investigate the effects of pulsed pressure curing on the beef absorption of the curing solution, cooking loss, moisture content, centrifugal loss, salt content, sensory attributes, texture, microstructures and volatile compounds. Curing methods include the following four treatments: (1) control group 1—static curing (SC); (2) control group 2—vacuum curing (VC); (3) control group 3—pressurized curing (PC); and (4) treatment group—pulsed pressure curing (PPC). The acquired results revealed that pulsed pressure curing significantly boosts the curing efficiency and moisture content, decreases cooking loss in beef, brightens meat color, and enhances texture compared to static curing, vacuum curing, and pressurized curing. Additionally, centrifugal losses were not impaired, and sensory findings revealed that PPC significantly improved the saltiness of beef. TPA results showed that the springiness and cohesiveness of PPC were greatly increased, and hardness and chewiness were significantly reduced. Moreover, PPC significantly reduced the content of 1-octen-3-ol and 1-hexanol. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images documented that pulsed pressure curing can effectively increase the tenderness of beef. This study demonstrates that processed meat product efficiency and sensory attributes should be taken into account when selecting a curing technique, and the PPC technique has an advantage in both areas.
Area Gene Regulates the Synthesis of β-Glucan with Antioxidant Activity in the Aureobasidium pullulans
Authors: Zhang Kai , Zhou Wei , Wang Wan , Zhao Shanshan , Lin Congyu , Ru Xin , Guan Jiaqi , Cong Hua , Yang Qian
Published: February 2023

The ability of the fungus to regulate metabolism on various nitrogen sources makes it survive and metabolize in different environments. The biomass and the β-glucan yield of Aureobasidium pullulans are closely associated with the nitrogen source. This study found the only GATA nitrogen source activation regulating factor Area in HIT-LCY3. In order to testify the Area function, we amplified its conserved domain to build a silencing vector and used the RNAi to obtain the Area silent strain, and then explored its effect on the phenotype of A. pullulans and the yield of β-glucan. We found that the biomass and β-glucan yield of the silent strain decreased significantly after culturing with different nitrogen sources, in particular when using sodium nitrate and glutamate as the source. However, the β-glucan yield increased significantly after overexpression of Area, reaching 5.2 g/L when glutamine was the nitrogen source. In addition, the strain morphology changed as well under different nitrogen sources. At last, we investigated the antioxidant activity in vitro of β-glucan and found that it has a significant clearance effect on OH·, DPPH·, and ABTS·, being best with ABTS. Therefore, this study believed that the Area gene has a certain regulation function on the synthesis of β-glucan with antioxidant activity.
Inactivation of Escherichia coli in an Orange Juice Beverage by Combined Ultrasonic and Microwave Treatment
Authors: Kernou Ourdia-Nouara , Azzouz Zahra , Belbahi Amine , Kerdouche Kamelia , Kaanin-Boudraa Ghania , Amir Akila , Madani Khodir , Rijo Patricia
Published: February 2023

The inactivation of Escherichia coli is one of the major issues in the food industry. The present study focuses on the application of a combined microwave-ultrasound system for the optimization of the inactivation of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 in an orange juice drink. Using response surface methodology (RSM), trials were planned with a Box–Behnken Design (BBD) to maximize the impact of microwave power (A: 300–900 W), microwave treatment time (B: 15–35 s), and time of ultrasound (C: 10–30 min) on E. coli inactivation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out and E. coli inactivation was expressed with a mathematical equation depending on the factors. The results showed that both the microwave treatment time and the time of ultrasound were effective as independent variables in eliminating the E. coli strain. However, the effect of these two variables, ultrasound and microwave exposure time, in combination was significantly greater than when examined separately. RSM modeling determined that optimal treatment conditions include 900 W microwave power, 33 s microwave treatment time, and 20 min time of ultrasound to achieve an 8-log reduction of E. coli, constituting total inactivation. The results of this study showed that ultrasound-microwave treatment is a potential alternative processing method for an orange juice beverage.
Impact of Agro-Industrial Side-Streams on Sesquiterpene Production by Submerged Cultured Cerrena unicolor
Authors: Püth Nils , Ersoy Franziska , Berger Ralf G. , Krings Ulrich
Published: February 2023

The quality and harvest of essential oils depend on a large number of factors, most of which are hard to control in an open-field environment. Therefore, Basidiomycota have gained attention as a source for biotechnologically produced terpenoids. The basidiomycete Cerrena unicolor (Cun) was cultivated in submerged culture, and the production of sesquiterpenoids was analyzed via stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), followed by thermo-desorption gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (TDS-GC-MS). Identification of aroma-active sesquiterpenoids was supported by GC, coupled with an olfactory detection port (ODP). Following the ideal of a circular bioeconomy, Cun was submerged (up-scalable) cultivated, and supplemented with a variety of food industrial side-streams. The effects of the different supplementations and of pure fatty acids were evaluated by liquid extraction and analysis of the terpenoids via GC-MS. As sesquiterpenoid production was enhanced by the most by lipid-rich side-streams, a cultivation with 13C-labeled acetate was conducted. Data confirmed that lipid-rich side-streams enhanced the sesquiterpene production through an increased acetyl-CoA pool.
Starlike Functions Based on Ruscheweyh q−Differential Operator defined in Janowski Domain
Authors: Cotîrlǎ Luminiţa-Ioana , Murugusundaramoorthy Gangadharan
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we make use of the concept of q−calculus in the theory of univalent functions, to obtain the bounds for certain coefficient functional problems of Janowski type starlike functions and to find the Fekete–Szegö functional. A similar results have been done for the function ℘−1. Further, for functions in newly defined class we determine coefficient estimates, distortion bounds, radius problems, results related to partial sums.
Proteomic and Transcriptomic Responses of the Desiccation-Tolerant Moss Racomitrium canescens in the Rapid Rehydration Processes
Authors: Peng Yifang , Ma Tianyi , Wang Xin , Zhang Meijuan , Xu Yingxu , Wei Jie , Sha Wei , Li Jing
Published: February 2023

The moss Racomitrium canescens (R. canescens) has strong desiccation tolerance. It can remain desiccated for years and yet recover within minutes of rehydration. Understanding the responses and mechanisms underlying this rapid rehydration capacity in bryophytes could identify candidate genes that improve crop drought tolerance. We explored these responses using physiology, proteomics, and transcriptomics. Label-free quantitative proteomics comparing desiccated plants and samples rehydrated for 1 min or 6 h suggesting that damage to chromatin and the cytoskeleton had occurred during desiccation, and pointing to the large-scale degradation of proteins, the production of mannose and xylose, and the degradation of trehalose immediately after rehydration. The assembly and quantification of transcriptomes from R. canescens across different stages of rehydration established that desiccation was physiologically stressful for the plants; however, the plants recovered rapidly once rehydrated. According to the transcriptomics data, vacuoles appear to play a crucial role in the early stages of R. canescens recovery. Mitochondria and cell reproduction might recover before photosynthesis; most biological functions potentially restarted after ~6 h. Furthermore, we identified novel genes and proteins related to desiccation tolerance in bryophytes. Overall, this study provides new strategies for analyzing desiccation-tolerant bryophytes and identifying candidate genes for improving plant drought tolerance.
Genomic Insights and Functional Analysis Reveal Plant Growth Promotion Traits of Paenibacillus mucilaginosus G78
Authors: Wang Dan , Poinsot Verena , Li Wangxi , Lu Yusheng , Liu Chong , Li Yaying , Xie Kaizhi , Sun Lili , Shi Chaohong , Peng Huanlong , Li Wanling , Zhou Changmin , Gu Wenjie
Published: February 2023

Paenibacillus mucilaginosus has widely been reported as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). However, the important genomic insights into plant growth promotion in this species remain undescribed. In this study, the genome of P. mucilaginosus G78 was sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq PE150. It contains 8,576,872 bp with a GC content of 58.5%, and was taxonomically characterized. Additionally, a total of 7337 genes with 143 tRNAs, 41 rRNAs, and 5 ncRNAs were identified. This strain can prohibit the growth of the plant pathogen, but also has the capability to form biofilm, solubilize phosphate, and produce IAA. Twenty-six gene clusters encoding secondary metabolites were identified, and the genotypic characterization indirectly proved its resistant ability to ampicillin, bacitracin, polymyxin and chloramphenicol. The putative exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and biofilm formation gene clusters were explored. According to the genetic features, the potential monosaccharides of its exopolysaccharides for P. mucilaginosus G78 may include glucose, mannose, galactose, fucose, that can probably be acetylated and pyruvated. Conservation of the pelADEFG compared with other 40 Paenibacillus species suggests that Pel may be specific biofilm matrix component in P. mucilaginosus. Several genes relevant to plant growth-promoting traits, i.e., IAA production and phosphate solubilization are well conserved compared with other 40 other Paenibacillus strains. The current study can benefit for understanding the plant growth-promoting traits of P. mucilaginosus as well as its potential application in agriculture as PGPR.
Tandem Repeat DNA Provides Many Cytological Markers for Hybrid Zone Analysis in Two Subspecies of the Grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus
Authors: Navarro-Domínguez Beatriz , Cabrero Josefa , López-León María Dolores , Ruiz-Ruano Francisco J. , Pita Miguel , Bella José L. , Camacho Juan Pedro M.
Published: February 2023

Recent advances in next generation sequencing (NGS) have greatly increased our understanding of non-coding tandem repeat (TR) DNA. Here we show how TR DNA can be useful for the study of hybrid zones (HZ), as it serves as a marker to identify introgression in areas where two biological entities come in contact. We used Illumina libraries to analyse two subspecies of the grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus, which currently form a HZ in the Pyrenees. We retrieved a total of 152 TR sequences, and used fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to map 77 families in purebred individuals from both subspecies. Our analysis revealed 50 TR families that could serve as markers for analysis of this HZ, using FISH. Differential TR bands were unevenly distributed between chromosomes and subspecies. Some of these TR families yielded FISH bands in only one of the subspecies, suggesting the amplification of these TR families after the geographic separation of the subspecies in the Pleistocene. Our cytological analysis of two TR markers along a transect of the Pyrenean hybrid zone showed asymmetrical introgression of one subspecies into the other, consistent with previous findings using other markers. These results demonstrate the reliability of TR-band markers for hybrid zone studies.
Improvement of the Physico-Chemical Properties, Nutritional, and Antioxidant Compounds of Pomegranate Fruit cv. ‘Wonderful’ Using Integrated Fertilization
Authors: Abdel-Sattar Mahmoud , Al-Obeed Rashid S. , Aboukarima Abdulwahed M. , Górnik Krzysztof , Eshra Dalia H.
Published: February 2023

This study comprised of five different integrated fertilizers of calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 with ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4 ratios (0%:100%, 10%:90%, 20%:80%, 30%:70%, and 40%:60%) to enhance the physico-chemical properties, and the antioxidant and nutritional compounds of pomegranate fruits cv. ‘Wonderful’. The results discovered that the application of Ca(NO3)2:(NH4)2SO4 in different ratios significantly affected all measured parameters. Among integrated fertilizers, the 30%:70% combination showed an increment of 10.8% in fruit weight, 2.9% in fruit length, 11.8% in fruit volume, and 7.0% in fruit diameter. Similarly, total soluble solids, vitamin C, anthocyanin, total sugars, and reduced sugars, were also increased by 11.2%, 14.6%, 20.2%, 7.4%, and 5.2%, respectively. Likewise, values of both color variations from green to red (a*) and from blue to yellow (b*), and chroma, were also increased by 13.8%, 16.6%, and 14.4%, respectively. Moreover, the application of Ca(NO3)2:(NH4)2SO4 at a ratio of 40%:60% showed 25.1% decrease in titratable acidity, and 45.4% and 27.0% increase in maturity index and peel luminosity, respectively. Additionally, the 30%:70% combination showed an increment of 30.9% in total phenolic content, 70.5% in total tannin content, and 43.6% in total flavonoid content. Additionally, it showed 25.8% and 1.7% decrease in pH and moisture content, respectively. Moreover, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni in fruit increased by different increments by application of the 30%:70% with an increasing range of 28% to 175%. A non-reducing sugar increase was observed at an application of Ca(NO3)2:(NH4)2SO4 at a ratio of 20%:80% by 47.0%. The findings of this study suggest that using calcium nitrate with ammonium sulphate at a ratio of 30%:70%, using the fertigation approach during the growth season, could be a safe, natural, and novel method for the pomegranate cv. ‘Wonderful’ to improve fruit quality, and its amount of antioxidants—specifically, phenolics, vitamin C, anthocyanin, and fruit minerals—with health benefits at harvest.
Growth and Productivity of Sweet Cherry Varieties on Hungarian Clonal Prunus mahaleb (L.) Rootstocks
Authors: Hrotkó Károly , Németh-Csigai Krisztina , Magyar Lajos , Ficzek Gitta
Published: February 2023

Due to climate changes, drought- and lime-tolerant Prunus mahaleb rootstock may gain importance. Among the Mahaleb rootstocks and hybrids, there are standard and moderate-vigorous types, but their intensive testing in orchards is still needed. Our paper reports on testing rootstocks SL 64, Bogdány, Magyar, SM 11/4 clonal Mahalebs, and the hybrid MaxMa 14. ‘Carmen’, ‘Vera’, ‘Paulus’, and ‘Rita’ sweet cherry trees were trained on the above rootstocks to the principles of Hungarian Cherry Spindle at a spacing of 1.6 × 5 m. Rootstocks SL 64, Bogdány, and SM 11/4 proved to be vigorous, while on rootstocks Magyar and MaxMa 14, the trees were moderately vigorous, about 80%. ‘Carmen’, ‘Vera’, and ‘Rita’ on Magyar and MaxMa 14 produced high cumulative yields without significant differences, while ‘Paulus’ trees were most productive on Bogdány rootstock. ‘Carmen’ on Bogdány rootstock, ‘Vera’ on Magyar and Maxma 14 rootstock, and ‘Rita’ on MaxMa 14 were more precocious than on SL 64. Contrary to SL 64 and MaxMa 14, both Magyar and Bogdány rootstocks resulted in abundant flat branching and good fruit size. Our conclusion is that trees on Magyar and Bogdány rootstocks fit well to the Hungarian Cherry Spindle orchard system with 1250 tree/ha orchard density.
Effects of Ultraviolet-B Radiation on the Regulation of Ascorbic Acid Accumulation and Metabolism in Lettuce
Authors: Liu Shujuan , Yu Lei , Liu Lipan , Yang Aihong , Huang Xingyu , Zhu Anfan , Zhou Hua
Published: February 2023

To understand the effect of ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation on the antioxidant capacity and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), we subjected lettuce plants to UV-B irradiation (15.55 kJ m−2 d−1) for 7 days and measured yield, photosynthetic performance, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), reduced glutathione (GSH), and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents, and the enzyme activity and expression of genes involving AsA recycling. UV-B exposure did not significantly decrease the fresh/dry weight of the lettuce shoots. The net photosynthesis rate, internal CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance decreased during the first 4 days of irradiation and light but recovered at day 7. In UV-B-treated plants, the levels of AsA, GSH, and H2O2 increased significantly and simultaneously, with a positive correlation found between H2O2 and AsA or GSH levels. UV-B exposure upregulated the expression level of most genes encoding the enzymes involving AsA recycling but downregulated the associated enzymatic activities. The increase of AsA content in UV-B-exposed lettuce might contribute to the AsA–GSH cycle, leading to downregulation of ascorbate oxidase (AO) enzymatic activity and gene expression. UV-B irradiation had a greater impact on metabolite levels than time of UV-B treatment. These results suggest that AsA homeostasis in UV-B-treated lettuce is regulated through a feedback loop between the expression and activity of enzymes associated with AsA recycling. Short-term UV-B supplementation (24 h) could be a promising approach to enhance AsA content in lettuce.
Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Taxus baccata L. against Pectobacterium spp. and Dickeya chrysanthemi
Authors: Sánchez-Hernández Eva , González-García Vicente , Martín-Gil Jesús , Lorenzo-Vidal Belén , Palacio-Bielsa Ana , Martín-Ramos Pablo
Published: February 2023

The yew tree (Taxus baccata L.) is considered in folklore a symbol of immortality due to its qualities of longevity and regeneration. Despite its poisonous reputation, the yew tree has a long history of medicinal use, particularly in the form of extracts from its leaves and bark. In the work presented herein, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) chemical profiling was applied to the aqueous ammonia/hydromethanolic extracts of several plant organs of T. baccata, leading to the identification of different bioactive compounds than those previously characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) in other extraction media. The leaf aqueous ammonia extract was rich in 2-hexylthiophene and 3-O-methyl-d-fructose; 9-octadecenoic and hexadecanoic acid were the main constituents of the bark aqueous ammonia extract; and the fruit hydromethanolic extract contained methyl 2-O-methyl-α-d-xylofuranoside, 1,3-dioxolane derivatives, and erysimoside. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was assayed against four bacterial pathogens responsible for the soft rot and blackleg diseases of potatoes, viz. Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Pectobacterium parmentieri, and Dickeya chrysanthemi, resulting in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 187 μg·mL−1. Bioassays on potato slices confirmed the efficacy of the leaf extract at this dose when applied as a preventive treatment before artificial inoculation with P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. In view of this high activity, these extracts may find application in the integrated pest management of soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) diseases.
Research on the Carbon Credit Exchange Strategy for Scrap Vehicles Based on Evolutionary Game Theory
Authors: Wu Quan , Cheng Wei , Zheng Zuoxiong , Zhang Guangjun , Xiao Haicheng , Wen Chuan
Published: February 2023

In this article, we construct a game model that uses government regulators and scrap vehicle owners as the main parties to investigate the carbon credit exchange strategy of scrap vehicles using evolutionary game theory. The results were validated using Matlab simulation analysis to reveal the dynamic evolution process of the strategy of both sides of the game. A sensitivity analysis of the key parameters was conducted to explore the influence of each parameter on the evolution process and the stabilization trends. The study shows that (1) The time for the game system to reach a steady state is inversely related to the size of the initial willingness of the parties to cooperate. (2) In the mixed steady-state scenario, when the overall return differential between the positive and negative regulatory verification by government departments is positive, the steady state is participation and positive scrapping. (3) When the probability of the government verifying and being successful in verifying the punishment of the owner’s negative scrapping behavior increases, both parties of the game will eventually choose the strategy of participation and positive scrapping. When the cost of the government participation strategy and the cost of the government verification strategy increase, both sides of the game will eventually choose the strategy combination of no participation and positive scrapping. (4) When the owner’s reward for cooperating with the strategy, the owner’s cost of scrapping the vehicle, and the benefits of the owner’s negative cooperation strategy change, they will not change the strategy stability results but will affect the time it takes for the game system to reach a stable state. This study has theoretical implications for government policies in the scrapping industry and how to guide vehicle owners to actively scrap their vehicles.
Potentially Harmful Elements Associated with Dust of Mosques: Pollution Status, Sources, and Human Health Risks
Authors: Tawabini Bassam , Al-Enazi Mubarak , Alghamdi Mansour A. , Farahat Ashraf , Shemsi Ahsan M. , Al Sharif Marwan Y. , Khoder Mamdouh I.
Published: February 2023

Potentially harmful elements (PHEs) associated with dust generated from anthropogenic sources can be transported into mosques and deposited on the filters of the air-conditioners (AC); thereby, children and adults are exposed to such PHEs while visiting mosques. Data dealing with the assessment of PHEs pollution and its human health risk in mosques dust in Saudi Arabia are scarce. Therefore, this work aims to examine the levels and pollution status of PHEs in AC filter dust (ACFD) of mosques and their associated human health risk in three Saudi cities: Jubail, Jeddah, and Dammam metropolitan. A similar concentration pattern of PHEs is observed in three cities’ mosques with noticeably higher concentrations than both global crustal and local background values for Zn, Cu, Pb, As, and Cd only. Except for Fe, Al, and Mn, the highest PHEs concentrations were found in Jeddah (1407 mg/kg), followed by Dammam (1239 mg/kg) and Jubail (1103 mg/kg). High PHEs’ concentrations were also recorded in mosques located near workshops and suburban areas compared to urban areas. Based on the spatial pattern, enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index, pollution load index, and ecological risk values, Jubail, Jeddah, and Dammam have shown moderate pollution levels of Cd, As, Pb, and Zn. On the other hand, Cu. Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, As, and Cd had degrees of enrichment levels that varied from significantly enriched to extremely highly enriched in the ACFD of the three cities. Heavy pollution is found in Jubail, which posed a higher potential ecological risk than in Jeddah and Dammam. Cd presents the highest ecological risk factors (ER) in the three cities. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for children and adults follow the order: Jeddah > Dammam > Jubail, and the ingestion pathway was the main route for exposure. Carcinogenic and con-carcinogenic risks in the mosques of the various studied cities were generally within the acceptable range.