bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severe Drought Still Affects Reproductive Traits Two Years Later in a Common Garden Experiment of Frangula alnus
Authors: Vander Mijnsbrugge Kristine , Schouppe Marc , Moreels Stefaan , Aguas Guerreiro Yorrick , Decorte Laura , Stessens Marie
Published: April 2023

Longer periods of intensified droughts in Western Europe are predicted due to ongoing climate change. Studying the responses of woody species during intense drought events can help toward understanding the consequences for forest ecosystems. We studied the effects of an intense summer water limitation on several reproductive traits, two years after the treatment, in Frangula alnus Mill. shrubs grown in a common garden. Drought-treated shrubs produced more berries one and two years after the drought event, while the height increment of the second post-treatment year was still significantly retarded. The mean weight of stones from berries picked two years after the drought treatment and their germination percentage, which was corrected for mean stone weight, were higher for the treated shrubs. These results indicate a resource re-allocation toward reproduction, rather than toward growth, which was still in action two years after the water limitation. The higher germination success, which is a transgenerational effect, and which has already been suggested to be an adaptation to survival in more stressful growth conditions, is also still detectable two years after the severe drought. F. alnus produces mature berries continuously during the whole summer. From the middle of July till the end of August, the counts of mature berries, the mean stone weight and the germination percentage, corrected for mean stone weight, decreased, whereas the timing of seedling emergence, also corrected for stone weight, advanced slightly. The timing of seedling emergence correlated weak but significantly with the timing of bud burst in the mother shrubs, with a variance analysis indicating a stronger genetic control for bud burst in comparison to seedling emergence. Several results corroborated previous findings. Population differentiation in the common garden was observed for mature berry counts and for several phenological traits. In conclusion, longer-term effects of drought on reproductive traits in woody species may add more complexity to the consequences of climate change on tree species distributions and survival of forest ecosystems.
Improving Pulping Performance as Well as Reducing Consumption and Increasing Efficiency via Microbial Consortium Pretreating Bamboo
Authors: Liu Chun , Li Zhijian , Guan Xiuqiong , Xu Yang , Huang Nan , Liu Kui
Published: April 2023

The bio-refining process of bamboo is more challenging compared to wood due to its dense and stabilized complex polymer structure, as well as its abundance of degradation-resistant components. Consequently, the bio-refining of bamboo requires more energy and time consumption compared to the bio-refining of wood. In this study, co-cultured microorganisms were utilized for the pretreatment of bamboo to improve pulping performance, reduce consumption, and increase efficiency. These microorganisms were constructed by combining environmental microorganisms found in bamboo pulp with Bacillus sp. that were self-screened. The results of 16S rRNA analysis showed that the genera Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota gradually became dominant during the treatment process. Additionally, the PICRUSt results indicated that the co-culture microbial consortium C strategy strengthened key enzyme activities related to the degradation of bamboo lignocelluloses. The microbial consortium pretreatment resulted in removing lignin and hemicellulose at rates of 21.96% and 26.21%, respectively. This process also caused a decrease in the crystalline index, indicating the presence of disordered crystalline regions. This change was beneficial for the subsequent Kraft pulping process. Compared to the conventional bamboo pulp, the yield of pretreated bamboo pulp increased slightly, while the cellulose purity and paper properties were significantly superior. The obtained Kraft pulp, which underwent microbiological pretreatment, met the requirements for superior Kraft pulp products despite a 65 min decrease in cooking time and a 10 °C decline in maximum cooking temperature. This study proves that co-cultured microbial consortium used for pretreating bamboo are beneficial for bamboo Kraft pulping. This approach can be considered environmentally friendly and leads to energy saving and cost reduction in bamboo bio-refining processes.
Spatial Modeling of Forest and Land Fire Susceptibility Using the Information Value Method in Kotawaringin Barat Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Ikhsan Arman Nur , Hadmoko Danang Sri , Widayani Prima
Published: April 2023

Kotawaringin Barat is a high-risk area for forest and land fires; a total of 564.13 km2 of forest land was burned from 2015 to 2022, the majority of which spread to peatlands. The goal of this contribution is to use the information value method (IVM) to construct forest and land fire spatial susceptibility maps for the Kotawaringin Barat regency. MODIS hotspots from 2016 to 2020 were used as the dependent variable, with six independent variables included in the modeling. According to the data, there were 925 hotspots detected in Kotawaringin Barat between 2016 and 2020. The areas closest to rivers and roads are more susceptible to forest and land fires, while the areas closest to settlements are safer. Flat slopes have an IVM of 0.697, while peatlands have an IVM of 0.667, making them the most susceptible to forest and land fires. Furthermore, the most susceptive land covers are swamps (IVM = 1.071) and shrublands (IVM = 0.024). According to the IVM model of susceptibility mapping, Kotawaringin Barat is categorized as very high (18.32%) and high (27.97%) risk. About 33.57% of the study area is classified as moderately susceptible, while the remaining 20.14% is classified as low risk. The accuracy of the IVM for forest and land fires is 66.87% (AUC), indicating that the model can be used for susceptibility assessments particularly for very high to high susceptibility areas.
The Relationships between Waxes and Storage Quality Indexes of Fruits of Three Plum Cultivars
Authors: Zhu Shouliang , Huang Shian , Lin Xin , Wan Xuan , Zhang Qin , Peng Junsen , Luo Dengcan , Zhang Yun , Dong Xiaoqing
Published: April 2023

In the present study, the cuticular wax morphology, composition and the relationship with storage quality in three plum cultivars of Prunus salicina ‘Kongxin’ (KXL), Prunus salicina ‘Fengtang’ (FTL) and Prunus salicina ‘Cuihong’ (CHL) were investigated during storage at room temperature of 25 ± 1 °C. The results illustrated that the highest cuticular wax concentration was discovered in KXL, followed by FTL and the lowest in CHL. The fruit wax composition of the three plum cultivars was similar and principally composed of alkanes, alcohols, fatty acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, triterpenes and olefins. Alcohols, alkanes and triterpenes were the dominant fruit wax compounds of the three plum cultivars. After storage for 20 d at room temperature, the variation of cuticular wax crystal structure and composition showed significant cultivar-associated differences. The total wax content decreased for FTL and CHL and increased for KXL, and the wax crystal degraded and melted together over time. The higher contents of the main components in the three plum cultivars were nonacosane, 1-triacontanol, 1-heneicosanol, nonacosan-10-one, octacosanal, ursolic aldehyde and oleic acid. Alcohols, triterpenes, fatty acids and aldehydes were most dramatically correlated with the softening of fruit and storage quality, and alkanes, esters and olefins were most significantly correlated with the water loss. Nonacosane and ursolic aldehyde can enhance the water retention of fruit. Overall, this study will provide a theoretical reference for the further precise development of edible plum fruit wax.
Generating Multi-Functional Pulse Ingredients for Processed Meat Products—Scientific Evaluation of Infrared-Treated Lentils
Authors: Pathiraje Darshika , Carlin Janelle , Der Tanya , Wanasundara Janitha P. D. , Shand Phyllis J.
Published: April 2023

In the last decade, various foods have been reformulated with plant protein ingredients to enhance plant-based food intake in our diet. Pulses are in the forefront as protein-rich sources to aid in providing sufficient daily protein intake and may be used as binders to reduce meat protein in product formulations. Pulses are seen as clean-label ingredients that bring benefits to meat products beyond protein content. Pulse flours may need pre-treatments because their endogenous bioactive components may not always be beneficial to meat products. Infrared (IR) treatment is a highly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly method of heating foods, creating diversity in plant-based ingredient functionality. This review discusses using IR-heating technology to modify the properties of pulses and their usefulness in comminuted meat products, with a major emphasis on lentils. IR heating enhances liquid-binding and emulsifying properties, inactivates oxidative enzymes, reduces antinutritional factors, and protects antioxidative properties of pulses. Meat products benefit from IR-treated pulse ingredients, showing improvements in product yields, oxidative stability, and nutrient availability while maintaining desired texture. IR-treated lentil-based ingredients, in particular, also enhance the raw color stability of beef burgers. Therefore, developing pulse-enriched meat products will be a viable approach toward the sustainable production of meat products.
Effect of Soluble Dietary Fiber of Navel Orange Peel Prepared by Mixed Solid-State Fermentation on the Quality of Jelly
Authors: Cheng Yanan , Xue Puyou , Chen Yi , Xie Jianhua , Peng Guanyi , Tian Shenglan , Chang Xinxin , Yu Qiang
Published: April 2023

The aim of this work was to prepare soluble dietary fibers (SDFs) from insoluble dietary fiber of navel orange peel (NOP-IDF) by mixed solid-state fermentation (M-SDF) and to investigate the influence of fermentation modification on the structural and functional characteristics of SDF in comparison with untreated soluble dietary fiber (U-SDF) of NOP-IDF. Based on this, the contribution of two kinds of SDF to the texture and microstructure of jelly was further examined. The analysis of scanning electron microscopy indicated that M-SDF exhibited a loose structure. The analysis of scanning electron microscopy indicated that M-SDF exhibited a loose structure. In addition, M-SDF exhibited increased molecular weight and elevated thermal stability, and had significantly higher relative crystallinity than U-SDF. Fermentation modified the monosaccharide composition and ratio of SDF, as compared to U-SDF. The above results pointed out that the mixed solid-state fermentation contributed to alteration of the SDF structure. Furthermore, the water holding capacity and oil holding capacity of M-SDF were 5.68 ± 0.36 g/g and 5.04 ± 0.04 g/g, which were about six times and two times of U-SDF, respectively. Notably, the cholesterol adsorption capacity of M-SDF was highest at pH 7.0 (12.88 ± 0.15 g/g) and simultaneously exhibited better glucose adsorption capacity. In addition, jellies containing M-SDF exhibited a higher hardness of 751.15 than U-SDF, as well as better gumminess and chewiness. At the same time, the jelly added with M-SDF performed a homogeneous porous mesh structure, which contributed to keeping the texture of the jelly. In general, M-SDF displayed much excellent structural and functional properties, which could be utilized to develop functional food.
Contribution of LRP1 in Human Congenital Heart Disease Correlates with Its Roles in the Outflow Tract and Atrioventricular Cushion Development
Authors: Arrigo Angelo B. , Zhu Wenjuan , Williams Kylia A. , Guzman-Moreno Carla , Lo Cecilia , Lin Jiuann-Huey I.
Published: April 2023

Due to the prevalence of congenital heart disease in the human population, determining the role of variants in congenital heart disease (CHD) can give a better understanding of the cause of the disorder. A homozygous missense mutation in the LDL receptor-related protein 1 (Lrp1) in mice was shown to cause congenital heart defects, including atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and double outlet right ventricle (DORV). Integrative analysis of publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets and spatial transcriptomics of human and mouse hearts indicated that LRP1 is predominantly expressed in mesenchymal cells and mainly located in the developing outflow tract and atrioventricular cushion. Gene burden analysis of 1922 CHD individuals versus 2602 controls with whole-exome sequencing showed a significant excess of rare damaging LRP1 mutations in CHD (odds ratio (OR) = 2.22, p = 1.92 × 10−4), especially in conotruncal defect with OR of 2.37 (p = 1.77 × 10−3) and atrioventricular septal defect with OR of 3.14 (p = 0.0194). Interestingly, there is a significant relationship between those variants that have an allele frequency below 0.01% and atrioventricular septal defect, which is the phenotype observed previously in a homozygous N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced Lrp1 mutant mouse line.
Outdoor River Activities: Relations with Geological Background and Extreme Events in the Perspective of Geoeducation
Authors: Bollati Irene Maria , Rossi Davide , Viani Cristina
Published: April 2023

As for sport climbing, also for outdoor activities such as rafting and canyoning, a strong connection with geofeatures on a long and short time scale exists. For investigating this, three river segments were selected in the Sesia hydrographic basin (Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark, Northwest Italy). Here, commercial rafting and canyoning activities are popular, and important geological features are present (Sesia Supervolcano, Insubric Line). The segments were investigated using partly IDRAIM (system for stream hydromorphological assessment, analysis, and monitoring). Bedrock features, confinement, sinuosity, bankfull bottom, morphological units, and steepness were characterized. The segments were hence divided in several reaches. Correlations on the long time scale were found mainly between the geology and bankfull bottom configuration, while sinuosity allowed us to highlight the possible structural control on the genesis of gorges. Moreover, the analysis of changes in a short time scale along the river segments after the extreme meteorological event occurred on 2–3 October 2020, highlighted a rapids difficulty variation, channels diversion, and woody–rocky debris accumulation in the bankfull, deeply influencing river activities. Through the proposed approach, new frontiers in the outreach of geosciences could be opened, especially in virtue of the several Sustainable Development Goals that could be achieved through river outdoor activities, among the others new employment opportunities for local operators.
Failure Mechanism of a Rainfall-Triggered Landslide in Clay Slopes
Authors: Lollino Piernicola , Ugenti Angelo , de Lucia Daniela , Parise Mario , Vennari Carmen , Allasia Paolo , Fazio Nunzio Luciano
Published: April 2023

In December 2013, a portion of a large and deep ancient landslide on the southern slope of the Montescaglioso town (Basilicata, Southern Italy) was abruptly reactivated, as a consequence of exceptional rainfall events, causing relevant damages to structures and infrastructures. The sliding surface is supposed to be located within a thick deposit of Pleistocene stiff clays overlain by dislocated blocks of calcarenites and cemented conglomerates. This paper discusses the research carried out to investigate the failure mechanism that occurred during the landslide event and the factors that controlled the reactivation. To this purpose, geological and geomorphological analyses were first proposed, followed by a back-analysis of the landslide process, performed via limit equilibrium calculations implementing time-dependent pore water pressure distributions derived from transient seepage finite element analyses. Furthermore, the overall landslide mechanism was investigated through a three-dimensional finite element analysis, built using the monitoring campaign carried out in the post-failure stage and calibrated according to the in situ failure mechanism evidence. Both the limit equilibrium and finite element analyses provide results in good agreement with the geomorphological evidence, further allowing us to recognize the effects of rainfall infiltration in the increase of pore water pressure along the sliding surface and the variation of the stress–strain state leading to failure occurrence.
Implementation, Feasibility, and Acceptability of MATCH to Prevent Iatrogenic Disability in Hospitalized Older Adults: A Question of Geriatric Care Program?
Authors: Peyrusqué Eva , Kergoat Marie-Jeanne , Sirois Marie-Josée , Veillette Nathalie , Fonseca Raquel , Aubertin-Leheudre Mylène
Published: April 2023

Senior adults (>age 65) represent almost 20% of the population but account for 48% of hospital bed occupancy. In older adults, hospitalization often results in functional decline (i.e., iatrogenic disability) and, consequently, the loss of autonomy. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to counteract these declines effectively. Nevertheless, PA is not implemented in standard clinical practice. We previously showed that MATCH, a pragmatic, specific, adapted, and unsupervised PA program, was feasible and acceptable in a geriatric assessment unit (GAU) and a COVID-19 geriatric unit. This feasibility study aims to confirm that this tool could be implemented in other geriatric care programs, notably a geriatric rehabilitation unit (GRU) and a post-acute care unit (PACU), in order to reach the maximum number of older patients. Eligibility and consent were assessed by the physician for all the patients admitted to the three units (GAU, GRU, and PACU). The rehabilitation therapist taught each participant one of the five PA programs based on their mobility score on the decisional tree. Implementation (eligibility (%): patients eligible/number admitted and delay of implementation: number of days until prescription); feasibility (adherence (%): number sessions completed/number sessions prescribed and walking time (%): total walking time/time prescribed time); and acceptability (healthcare team (%): tool adequacy (yes/no) and patient: System Usability Scale questionnaire (SUS: x/100)) were evaluated and analyzed using a Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA or Fisher’s exact test. Eligibility was different between the units (GRU = 32.5% vs. PACU = 26.6% vs. GAU = 56.0%; p < 0.001), but the time before implementation was similar (days: GRU = 5.91 vs. PACU = 5.88 vs. GAU = 4.78; p > 0.05). PA adherence (GRU = 83.5% vs. PACU = 71.9% vs. GAU = 74.3%) and walking time (100% in all units) were similar (p > 0.05). Patients (SUS: GRU = 74.6 vs. PACU = 77.2 vs. GAU = 77.2; p > 0.05) and clinicians (adequacy (yes; %): GRU = 78.3%; PACU = 76.0%; GAU = 72.2%; p > 0.05) found MATCH acceptable. Overall, MATCH was implementable, feasible, and acceptable in a GAU, GRU, and PACU. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our results and evaluate the health benefits of MATCH compared with usual care.
Transforming Health Care Delivery towards Value-Based Health Care in Germany: A Delphi Survey among Stakeholders
Authors: Krebs Franziska , Engel Sabrina , Vennedey Vera , Alayli Adrienne , Simic Dusan , Pfaff Holger , Stock Stephanie ,   on behalf of the Cologne Research and Development Network (CoRe-Net)
Published: April 2023

Value-based healthcare (VBC) represents one strategy to meet growing challenges in healthcare systems. To date, VBC is not implemented broadly in the German healthcare system. A Delphi survey was conducted to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on the relevance and feasibility of actions and practices related to the implementation of VBC in the German healthcare system. Panellists were selected using purposive sampling. Two iterative online survey rounds were conducted which were preceded by a literature search and semi-structured interviews. After two survey rounds, a consensus was reached on 95% of the items in terms of relevance and on 89% of the items regarding feasibility. The expert panels’ responses were in favor of the presented actions and practices of VBC in 98% of items for which consensus was found (n = 101). Opposition was present regarding the relevance of health care being provided preferably in one location for each indication. Additionally, the panel considered inter-sectoral joint budgets contingent on treatment outcomes achieved as not feasible. When planning the next steps in moving towards a value-based healthcare system, policymakers should take into account this study’s results on stakeholders’ perceptions of the relative importance and feasibility of VBC components. This ensures that regulatory changes are aligned with stakeholder values, facilitating greater acceptance and more successful implementation.
Supporting All Educators to Take Part in Teacher Professional Learning for Inclusion
Authors: De Vroey Annet , Lecheval Amélie , Symeonidou Simoni
Published: April 2023

In the process of ensuring inclusive education, teachers’ individual roles are shifting towards collaborative practice, involving sharing tasks and expertise among a wide range of educational professionals. Policies for inclusion have resulted in a sense of urgency among universities to better educate teachers for inclusive practice. Yet, the tools to support this demand appear to be quite limited, or do not address the gaps in teacher professional learning identified in the research. Proceeding from the outcomes of a policy review on teacher professional learning for inclusion in Europe, the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education explored the use and relevance of the Profile of Inclusive Teachers, developed in 2012, for all education professionals. This paper reports on the approach and the main findings of a study conducted in collaboration with European countries, leading to a new and complementary Profile for Inclusive Teacher Professional Learning developed in 2022. The new Profile is built upon the initial 2012 Profile for pre-service teachers and aims to include all education professionals in teacher professional learning opportunities for inclusive education. Findings highlight the Profile’s core values and areas of competence and the essential features of competence development for inclusion. The paper concludes with recommendations for the collaborative use of a shared competence framework for inclusion and the role of universities offering teachers professional learning for inclusion.
Expression of the Populus Orthologues of AtYY1, YIN and YANG Activates the Floral Identity Genes AGAMOUS and SEPALLATA3 Accelerating Floral Transition in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liu Xinying , Xing Qian , Liu Xuemei , Müller-Xing Ralf
Published: April 2023

YIN YANG 1 (YY1) encodes a dual-function transcription factor, evolutionary conserved between the animal and plant kingdom. In Arabidopsis thaliana, AtYY1 is a negative regulator of ABA responses and floral transition. Here, we report the cloning and functional characterization of the two AtYY1 paralogs, YIN and YANG (also named PtYY1a and PtYY1b) from Populus (Populus trichocarpa). Although the duplication of YY1 occurred early during the evolution of the Salicaceae, YIN and YANG are highly conserved in the willow tree family. In the majority of Populus tissues, YIN was more strongly expressed than YANG. Subcellular analysis showed that YIN-GFP and YANG-GFP are mainly localized in the nuclei of Arabidopsis. Stable and constitutive expression of YIN and YANG resulted in curled leaves and accelerated floral transition of Arabidopsis plants, which was accompanied by high expression of the floral identity genes AGAMOUS (AG) and SEPELLATA3 (SEP3) known to promote leaf curling and early flowering. Furthermore, the expression of YIN and YANG had similar effects as AtYY1 overexpression to seed germination and root growth in Arabidopsis. Our results suggest that YIN and YANG are functional orthologues of the dual-function transcription factor AtYY1 with similar roles in plant development conserved between Arabidopsis and Populus.
The Effect of Epimedium Isopentenyl Flavonoids on the Broiler Gut Health Using Microbiomic and Metabolomic Analyses
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Zhao Qingyu , Qin Yuchang , Si Wei , Zhang Huiyan , Zhang Junmin
Published: April 2023

Epimedium (EM), also known as barrenwort, is a traditional medicinal plant rich in isopentenyl flavonols, which have beneficial biological activities and can improve human and animal health, but its mechanism is still unclear. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) were used to analyse the main components of EM, and isopentenyl flavonols such as Epimedin A, B, and C as well as Icariin were the major components of EM. Meanwhile, broilers were selected as model animals to illuminate the mechanism of Epimedium isopentenyl flavonols (EMIE) on gut health. The results showed that supplementation with 200 mg/kg EM improved the immune response, increased cecum short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lactate concentrations, and improved nutrient digestibility in broilers. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing showed that EMIE altered the composition of cecal microbiome, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Candidatus Soleaferrea and Lachbospiraceae NC2004 group and Butyricioccus) and reducing that of harmful bacteria (UBA1819, Negativibacillus, and Eisenbergiella). Metabolomic analysis identified 48 differential metabolites, of which Erosnin and Tyrosyl-Tryptophan were identified as core biomarkers. Erosnin and tyrosyl-tryptophan are potential biomarkers to evaluate the effects of EMIE. This shows that EMIE may regulate the cecum microbiota through Butyricicoccus, with changes in the relative abundance of the genera Eisenbergiella and Un. Peptostreptococcaceae affecting the serum metabolite levels of the host. EMIE is an excellent health product, and dietary isopentenyl flavonols, as bioactive components, can improve health by altering the microbiota structure and the plasma metabolite profiles. This study provides the scientific basis for the future application of EM in diets.
Host-Specific Diversity of Culturable Bacteria in the Gut Systems of Fungus-Growing Termites and Their Potential Functions towards Lignocellulose Bioconversion
Authors: Xie Rongrong , Dong Chenchen , Wang Shengjie , Danso Blessing , Dar Mudasir A. , Pandit Radhakrishna S. , Pawar Kiran D. , Geng Alei , Zhu Daochen , Li Xia , Xu Qing , Sun Jianzhong
Published: April 2023

Fungus-growing termites are eusocial insects that represent one of the most efficient and unique systems for lignocellulose bioconversion, evolved from a sophisticated symbiosis with lignocellulolytic fungi and gut bacterial communities. Despite a plethora of information generated during the last century, some essential information on gut bacterial profiles and their unique contributions to wood digestion in some fungus-growing termites is still inadequate. Hence, using the culture-dependent approach, the present study aims to assess and compare the diversity of lignocellulose-degrading bacterial symbionts within the gut systems of three fungus-growing termites: Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, Odontotermes longignathus, and Macrotermes sp. A total of 32 bacterial species, belonging to 18 genera and 10 different families, were successfully isolated and identified from three fungus-growing termites using Avicel or xylan as the sole source of carbon. Enterobacteriaceae was the most dominant family represented by 68.1% of the total bacteria, followed by Yersiniaceae (10.6%) and Moraxellaceae (9%). Interestingly, five bacterial genera such as Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Trabulsiella, and Kluyvera were common among the tested termites, while the other bacteria demonstrated a termite-specific distribution. Further, the lignocellulolytic potential of selected bacterial strains was tested on agricultural waste to evaluate their capability for lignocellulose bioconversion. The highest substrate degradation was achieved with E. chengduensis MA11 which degraded 45.52% of rice straw. All of the potential strains showed endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and xylanase activities depicting a symbiotic role towards the lignocellulose digestion within the termite gut. The above results indicated that fungus-growing termites harbor a diverse array of bacterial symbionts that differ from species to species, which may play an inevitable role to enhance the degradation efficacy in lignocellulose decomposition. The present study further elaborates our knowledge about the termite-bacteria symbiosis for lignocellulose bioconversion which could be helpful to design a future biorefinery.
Usage of Fermental Traps for the Study of the Species Diversity of Coleoptera in Open Biotopes
Authors: Ruchin Alexander B. , Egorov Leonid V. , Khapugin Anatoliy A.
Published: April 2023

Usage of a variety of non-trivial ways to study Coleoptera gives unexpected and original results. The studies were conducted using simple traps with fermenting baits in the central part of European Russia. There were 286 trap exposures, and 7906 Coleoptera specimens (208 species from 35 families) were collected. The largest number of species belonged to the families Cerambycidae (35 species), Curculionidae (26 species), and Elateridae (25 species). One species each was noted in 12 families. Traps were applied in five open habitats (dry meadow, shore, floodplain meadow, cuttings under power lines, and glade in woods). Only 13 species were common to all habitats: Cetonia aurata, Protaetia marmorata, Dasytes niger, Cryptarcha strigata, Glischrochilus grandis, Glischrochilus hortensis, Glischrochilus quadrisignatus, Soronia grisea, Notoxus monoceros, Aromia moschata, Leptura quadrifasciata, Rhagium mordax, Anisandrus dispar. Dry meadows were dominated by C. aurata, A. murinus, and P. cuprea volhyniensis. A shore was dominated by C. strigata, G. grandis, G. hortensis, S. grisea, and A. dispar. The dominant species in floodplain meadows were G. hortensis, S. grisea, and A. dispar. On cuttings under power lines, the most numerous were C. aurata, P. cuprea volhyniensis, and C. viridissima. In forest glades, the maximum abundance data were obtained for G. grandis, C. strigata, and A. dispar. The Shannon index was greatest in meadow habitats of varying degrees of moisture, while it was minimal on the shore. The increase in the Simpson index was also characteristic of the shore. These data indicate reduced species diversity combined with the dominance of several species in this biotope. The maximum species diversity with the highest level of species alignment was characteristic of meadow plots, while lower values were obtained under power lines and in forest glades. We recommend the usage of fermental traps with beer for ecological studies of the Coleoptera fauna in open biotopes.
Strain Analysis in Patients with Frequent Premature Ventricular Complexes and Preserved Left Ventricular Function Undergoing Ablation
Authors: Jamé Sina , Liu Zhigang , Kolias Theodore , Liang Jackson , Labounty Troy , Ghannam Michael , Latchamsetty Rakesh , Jongnarangsin Krit , Morady Fred , Bogun Frank
Published: April 2023

Background: Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can cause PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. The value of PVC ablation in patients with preserved left ventricular function in the low–normal range (ejection fraction: 50–55%) is not established. Strain analysis has been used to estimate changes in left ventricular function beyond assessment of the ejection fraction (EF). Longitudinal strain has been proposed as a method to detect changes over time in the setting of frequent asymptomatic premature ventricular complexes and preserved left ventricular (LV) function. A decrease in strain may be evidence of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. Objective: In this study, we assessed the role of PVC ablation in patients with low–normal EF and the effect on EF and myocardial strain before and after PVC ablation. Methods: A total of 70 consecutive patients with either low–normal EF (0.5–<0.55, n = 35) or high–normal EF (≥0.55; n = 35), using available imaging and Holter data, were referred for ablation due to frequent PVCs. EF and longitudinal strain were assessed pre- and post-ablation. Results: There was a significant increase in EF (53.2 ± 0.4% to 58.3 ± 0.5%, p < 0.001) and improvement in longitudinal strain (−15.2 ± 3.3 to −16.6 ± 3, p = 0.007) post-ablation in patients with low–normal EF and successful ablation. There was no change in EF or longitudinal strain in patients with high–normal EF and a successful ablation pre- vs. post-ablation. Conclusions: Patients with frequent PVCs and low–normal LV EF compared to patients with frequent PVCs and high–normal LV EF have evidence of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy and may benefit from ablation despite a preserved left ventricular EF.
Revolutionizing Chronic Kidney Disease Management with Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Krisanapan Pajaree , Tangpanithandee Supawit , Thongprayoon Charat , Pattharanitima Pattharawin , Cheungpasitporn Wisit
Published: April 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant public health challenge, affecting approximately 11% to 13% of the global population [...]
The Interaction Effect of Anti-RgpA and Anti-PPAD Antibody Titers: An Indicator for Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis
Authors: Castillo Diana Marcela , Lafaurie Gloria Inés , Romero-Sánchez Consuelo , Delgadillo Nathaly Andrea , Castillo Yormaris , Bautista-Molano Wilson , Pacheco-Tena César , Bello-Gualtero Juan Manuel , Chalem-Choueka Philippe , Castellanos Jaime E.
Published: April 2023

Porphyromonas gingivalis secretes virulence factors like Arg-gingipains and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. However, there is no information regarding the antibody titers for these bacterial enzymes as systemic indicators or biomarkers in RA. In this cross-sectional study, 255 individuals were evaluated: 143 were diagnosed with RA, and 112 were without RA. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, basal metabolic index, smoking, and periodontitis severity were used to evaluate the association of RA with rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, anti-RgpA, anti-PPAD, and double positive anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD. It was found that RF (odds ratio [OR] 10.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4–25), ACPAs (OR 13.7; 95% CI 5.1–35), and anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD double positivity (OR 6.63; 95% CI 1.61–27) were associated with RA diagnoses. Anti-RgpA was also associated with RA (OR 4.09; 95% CI 1.2–13.9). The combination of anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD showed a high specificity of 93.7% and 82.5% PPV in identifying individuals with RA. RgpA antibodies were associated with the periodontal inflammatory index in RA individuals (p < 0.05). The double positivity of the anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD antibodies enhanced the diagnosis of RA. Therefore, RgpA antibodies and anti-RgpA/anti-PPAD may be biomarkers for RA.
Multiple-Ion Releasing Bioactive Surface Pre-Reacted Glass-Ionomer (S-PRG) Filler: Innovative Technology for Dental Treatment and Care
Authors: Imazato Satoshi , Nakatsuka Toshiyuki , Kitagawa Haruaki , Sasaki Jun-Ichi , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Ito Shuichi , Takeuchi Hiroki , Nomura Ryota , Nakano Kazuhiko
Published: April 2023

Surface Pre-Reacted Glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler, which releases strontium (Sr2+), borate (BO33−), fluoride (F−), sodium (Na+), silicate (SiO32−), and aluminum (Al3+) ions at high concentrations, is a unique glass filler that are utilized in dentistry. Because of its multiple-ion releasing characteristics, S-PRG filler exhibits several bioactivities such as tooth strengthening, acid neutralization, promotion of mineralization, inhibition of bacteria and fungi, inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, and enhancement of cell activity. Therefore, S-PRG filler per se and S-PRG filler-containing materials have the potential to be beneficial for various dental treatments and care. Those include restorative treatment, caries prevention/management, vital pulp therapy, endodontic treatment, prevention/treatment of periodontal disease, prevention of denture stomatitis, and perforation repair/root end filling. This review summarizes bioactive functions exhibited by S-PRG filler and its possible contribution to oral health.
Knowledge Representations: Individual Differences in Novel Problem Solving
Authors: Raden Megan J. , Jarosz Andrew F.
Published: April 2023

The present study investigates how the quality of knowledge representations contributes to rule transfer in a problem-solving context and how working memory capacity (WMC) might contribute to the subsequent failure or success in transferring the relevant information. Participants were trained on individual figural analogy rules and then asked to rate the subjective similarity of the rules to determine how abstract their rule representations were. This rule representation score, along with other measures (WMC and fluid intelligence measures), was used to predict accuracy on a set of novel figural analogy test items, of which half included only the trained rules, and half were comprised of entirely new rules. The results indicated that the training improved performance on the test items and that WMC largely explained the ability to transfer rules. Although the rule representation scores did not predict accuracy on the trained items, rule representation scores did uniquely explain performance on the figural analogies task, even after accounting for WMC and fluid intelligence. These results indicate that WMC plays a large role in knowledge transfer, even when transferring to a more complex problem-solving context, and that rule representations may be important for novel problem solving.
Semi-Analytical Solution of Transverse Vibration of Cylinders with Non-Circular Cross-Section Partially Submerged in Water
Authors: Han Huixuan , Guo Yishuo , Huo Ruili
Published: April 2023

The free transverse vibration of a surface-piercing, vertical cylinder partially submerged in water was studied. The cylinder had an arbitrary non-circular, but symmetric, cross-section in the vibration direction. The water was assumed to be an incompressible and inviscid fluid. The effect of the surface waves of water was neglected in the analysis. The exact solution of velocity potential of water was derived by the method of separation of variables. The unknown coefficients in the solution of the velocity potential were expressed in the form of integral equations, including the dynamic deformation of the beam. Then, the governing differential equation of bending vibration of the cylinder under the hydrodynamic pressure was obtained. The Galerkin method was used to obtain the eigenvalue equation by expanding the wet modes of the cylinder into a series of dry modes. The elliptical cylinders partially submerged in water were taken as the numerical example. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by the convergence studies. As a consequent result, the non-dimensional added virtual mass incremental (NAVMI) factor solutions were compared to the present Galerkin solutions, which can be used as a benchmark test for more sophisticated numerical simulations of computational fluid dynamics.
Multi-AUV Formation Predictive Control Based on CNN-LSTM under Communication Constraints
Authors: Li Juan , Tian Zhenyang , Zhang Gengshi , Li Wenbo
Published: April 2023

For the problem of hydroacoustic communication constraints in multi-AUV leader follower formation, this paper designs a formation control method combining CNN-LSTM prediction and backstepping sliding mode control. First, a feedback linearization method is used to transform the AUV nonlinear model into a second-order integral model; then, the influence of hydroacoustic communication constraints on the multi-AUV formation control problem is analyzed, and a sliding window-based formation prediction control strategy is designed; for the characteristics of AUV motion trajectory with certain temporal order, the CNN-LSTM prediction model is selected to predict the trajectory state of the leader follower and compensate the effect of communication delay on formation control, and combine the backstepping method and sliding mode control to design the formation controller. Finally, the simulation experimental results show that the proposed CNN-LSTM prediction and backstepping sliding mode control can improve the effect of hydroacoustic communication constraints on formation control.
Adaptive Graph-Learning Convolutional Network for Multi-Node Offshore Wind Speed Forecasting
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Yang Xinli , Zhang Denghui , Xu Ping , Li Zhuolin , Hu Fengjun
Published: April 2023

Multi-node wind speed forecasting is greatly important for offshore wind power. It is a challenging task due to unknown complex spatial dependencies. Recently, graph neural networks (GNN) have been applied to wind forecasting because of their capability in modeling dependencies. However, existing methods usually require a pre-defined graph structure, which is not optimal for the downstream task and limits the application scope of GNN. In this paper, we propose adaptive graph-learning convolutional networks (AGLCN) that can automatically infer hidden associations among multi-nodes through a graph-learning module. It simultaneously integrates the temporal and graph convolutional modules to capture temporal and spatial features in the data. Experiments are conducted on real-world multi-node wind speed data from the China Sea. The results show that our model achieves state-of-the-art results in all multi-scale wind speed predictions. Moreover, the learned graph can reveal spatial correlations from a data-driven perspective.
A Survey on Physical Layer Techniques and Challenges in Underwater Communication Systems
Authors: Junejo Naveed Ur Rehman , Sattar Mariyam , Adnan Saifullah , Sun Haixin , Adam Abuzar B. M. , Hassan Ahmad , Esmaiel Hamada
Published: April 2023

In the past decades, researchers/scientists have paid attention to the physical layer of underwater communications (UWCs) due to a variety of scientific, military, and civil tasks completed beneath water. This includes numerous activities critical for communication, such as survey and monitoring of oceans, rescue, and response to disasters under the sea. Till the end of the last decade, many review articles addressing the history and survey of UWC have been published which were mostly focused on underwater sensor networks (UWSN), routing protocols, and underwater optical communication (UWOC). This paper provides an overview of underwater acoustic (UWA) physical layer techniques including cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM), zero padding orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ZP-OFDM), time-domain synchronization orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (TDS-OFDM), multiple input multiple output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM), generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM), unfiltered orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (UF-OFDM), continuous phase modulation orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CPM-OFDM), filter bank multicarrier (FBMC) modulation, MIMO, spatial modulation technologies (SMTs), and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing index modulation (OFDM-IM). Additionally, this paper provides a comprehensive review of UWA channel modeling problems and challenges, such as transmission loss, propagation delay, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and distance, multipath effect, ambient noise effect, delay spread, Doppler effect modeling, Doppler shift estimation. Further, modern technologies of the physical layer of UWC have been discussed. This study also discusses the different modulation technology in terms of spectral efficiency, computational complexity, date rate, bit error rate (BER), and energy efficiency along with their merits and demerits.
Land Consumption Classification Using Sentinel 1 Data: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mastrorosa Sara , Crespi Mattia , Congedo Luca , Munafò Michele
Published: April 2023

The development of remote sensing technology has redefined the approaches to the Earth’s surface monitoring. The Copernicus Programme promoted by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union (EU), through the launch of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Sentinel-1 and the multispectral Sentinel-2 satellites, has provided a valuable contribution to monitoring the Earth’s surface. There are several review articles on the land use/land cover (LULC) matter using Sentinel images, but it lacks a methodical and extensive review in the specific field of land consumption monitoring, concerning the application of SAR images, in particular Sentinel-1 images. In this paper, we explored the potential of Sentinel-1 images to estimate land consumption using mathematical modeling, focusing on innovative approaches. Therefore, this research was structured into three principal steps: (1) searching for appropriate studies, (2) collecting information required from each paper, and (3) discussing and comparing the accuracy of the existing methods to evaluate land consumption and their applied conditions using Sentinel-1 Images. Current research has demonstrated that Sentinel-1 data has the potential for land consumption monitoring around the world, as shown by most of the studies reviewed: the most promising approaches are presented and analyzed.
Effects of Motor Rehabilitation on Balance and Functional Activities in Elderly Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy and Recurrent Falls
Authors: Gialanella Bernardo , Comini Laura , Prometti Paola , Vanoglio Fabio , Santoro Raffaele
Published: April 2023

To date, little is known about the effects of motor rehabilitation in peripheral neuropathy (PN) patients with a history of recurrent falls (RFH). This study aimed to assess balance and the activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly lower limb PN patients with and without RFH and to verify the effects of motor rehabilitation on balance and ADLs in these patients. We collected data from 64 lower limb PN patients, who underwent a conventional motor rehabilitation program: 35 patients had a history of recurrent falls, and 29 did not. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and motor FIM, before and after rehabilitation, were the outcome measures. After rehabilitation, lower limb PN patients with RFH had significantly higher scores in BBS and motor FIM (p < 0.001, for both) than at entry. The final BBS score and effectiveness in the BBS score of lower limb PN patients with RFH were lower than those of patients without RFH (p < 0.05 and p = 0.009, respectively). The study shows that conventional motor rehabilitation improves both balance and ADLs in patients, but balance improvement is lower in those with RFH. Thus, motor rehabilitation can be a therapeutic option for the management of these patients.