bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dosimetric Benefit of Adaptive Magnetic Resonance-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy of Liver Metastases
Authors: Weykamp Fabian , Katsigiannopulos Efthimios , Piskorski Lars , Regnery Sebastian , Hoegen Philipp , Ristau Jonas , Renkamp C. Katharina , Liermann Jakob , Forster Tobias , Lang Kristin , König Laila , Rippke Carolin , Buchele Carolin , Debus Jürgen , Klüter Sebastian , Hörner-Rieber Juliane
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: To assess dosimetry benefits of stereotactic magnetic resonance (MR)-guided online adaptive radiotherapy (SMART) of liver metastases. (2) Methods: This is a subgroup analysis of an ongoing prospective registry including patients with liver metastases. Patients were treated at the MRIdian Linac between February 2020 and April 2022. The baseline plan was recalculated based on the updated anatomy of the day to generate the predicted plan. This predicted plan could then be re-optimized to create an adapted plan. (3) Results: Twenty-three patients received 30 SMART treatment series of in total 36 liver metastases. Most common primary tumors were colorectal- and pancreatic carcinoma (26.1% respectively). Most frequent fractionation scheme (46.6%) was 50 Gy in five fractions. The adapted plan was significantly superior compared to the predicted plan in regard to planning-target-volume (PTV) coverage, PTV overdosing, and organs-at-risk (OAR) dose constraints violations (91.5 vs. 38.0%, 6 vs. 19% and 0.6 vs. 10.0%; each p < 0.001). Plan adaptation significantly increased median BEDD95 by 3.2 Gy (p < 0.001). Mean total duration of SMART was 72.4 min. (4) Conclusions: SMART offers individualized ablative irradiation of liver metastases tailored to the daily anatomy with significant superior tumor coverage and improved sparing of OAR.
Understanding the Link between Sugar and Cancer: An Examination of the Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
Authors: Epner Margeaux , Yang Peiying , Wagner Richard W. , Cohen Lorenzo
Published: December 2022

Per capita sugar consumption has increased in the United States to over 45 kg per year. The average person in the US currently consumes significantly more added sugar in their diet than the World Health Organization’s, the American Cancer Society’s, and the American Heart Association’s recommendations for daily sugar consumption. Evidence from epidemiologic and preclinical studies demonstrates that excess sugar consumption can lead to development of cancer and progression of disease for those with cancer independent of the association between sugar and obesity. Human epidemiologic studies and mechanistic preclinical studies in multiple cancers support a causal link between excess sugar and cancer. Preclinical studies show that high-sucrose or high-fructose diets activate several mechanistic pathways, including inflammation, glucose, and lipid metabolic pathways. Although human studies are limited, compelling human and primate studies have explored the link between added sugar and metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for cancer. Substantial evidence suggests a causal link between MetS and added sugar, indicating important implications in the association between excess sugar consumption and cancer. Human clinical trials are needed to determine whether sugar increases cancer development and progression independently of its established role in causing obesity as well as for further exploration of the mechanisms involved.
Arbutin Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Catalytic Activity against Different Organic Dyes
Authors: Farooq Umar , Akter Shahina , Kaleem Qureshi Ahmad , Alhuthali Hayaa M. , Almehmadi Mazen , Allahyani Mamdouh , Alsaiari Ahad Amer , Aljuaid Abdulelah , Farzana Maisha , Alhazmi Abdulfattah Yahya M. , Shahab Muhammad
Published: December 2022

In this study, we report one-pot, single step synthesis of silver nanoparticles stabilized by using arbutin. The concentration of reducing agent (NaBH4) used in the preparation was kept at double, and arbutin was used as a stabilizing agent. The confirmation of prepared silver nanoparticles was done by color change and UV-Vis surface plasmon resonance peak at 435 nm in UV-Vis spectrum. Size dispersion of nanoparticles was carried out by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and surface charge on nanoparticles. Stability was analyzed by Zeta potential. A strong negative charge indicated that nanoparticles are well stabilized throughout the solution. Morphology and 3D topographic images were obtained by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The crystalline nature of nanoparticles was elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The size and morphology of solid, well-grinded nanoparticles was proceeded by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The catalytic activities of nanoparticles were carried out against methylene blue, methyl orange, safranin, and eosin. The results demonstrated that synthesized silver nanoparticles commenced the degradation reaction of dyes mentioned. Prepared silver nanoparticles are found to have adequate catalytic activity, as it can be comprehended in time-dependent UV-Vis spectrums of dyes after treating them with AgNPs.
Valorisation of Corncob Residue towards the Sustainable Production of Glucuronic Acid
Authors: Li Wei , Xu Shuguang , Xu Xiang
Published: December 2022

The production of glucuronic acid (GA) directly from actual biomass via chemocatalysis is of great significance to the effective valorisation of biomass for a sustainable future. Herein, we have developed a one-step strategy for the conversion of cellulose in corncob residue into GA with the cooperation of Au/CeO2 and maleic acid, achieving a 60.3% yield. Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) results show that maleic acid is effective in the fractionation of cellulose from corncob residue and the depolymerisation of cellulose fragments to glucose, on account of the good capacity for proton migration. Au/CeO2 is responsible for the selective oxidation of glucose to GA, in which the formation of glucaric acid is restrained, due to the weak capacity of Au/CeO2 on the proton transfer without the occurrence of the ring-opening reaction of glucose. Therefore, the relay catalysis of Au/CeO2 and maleic acid enables the production of GA via the complex cascade reactions. This work may provide insight regarding the conversion of actual biomass to targeted products.
Single-Atom Iron Catalyst Based on Functionalized Mesophase Pitch Exhibiting Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity
Authors: Gu Xianrui , Wang Meng , Peng Hongpeng , Peng Qian , Wang Wei , Wang Houpeng , Shi Junjun , Qin Xuetao , Da Zhijian , Yang Wenhong , Wu Yuchao , Ma Ding , Dai Houliang
Published: December 2022

Designing highly efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts is of great importance in the fields of energy conversion and storage. We report on the facile synthesis of a single atom (SA) iron catalyst via the pyrolysis of a functionalized mesophase pitch. Monomers of naphthalene and indole underwent polymerization in the presence of iron chloride, which afterwards served as the pore-forming agent and iron source for the resulting catalyst. The SA-Fe@NC catalyst has a well-defined atomic dispersion of iron atoms coordinated by N-ligands in the porous carbon matrix, exhibiting excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity (E1/2 = 0.89 V) that outperforms the commercial Pt/C catalyst (E1/2 = 0.84 V). Moreover, it shows better long-term stability than the Pt/C catalyst in alkaline media. This facile strategy could be employed in versatile fossil feedstock and develop promising non-platinum group metal ORR catalysts for fuel cell technologies.
Exploring the Regulatory Role of ncRNA in NAFLD: A Particular Focus on PPARs
Authors: Mukherjee Anirban Goutam , Wanjari Uddesh Ramesh , Gopalakrishnan Abilash Valsala , Katturajan Ramkumar , Kannampuzha Sandra , Murali Reshma , Namachivayam Arunraj , Ganesan Raja , Renu Kaviyarasi , Dey Abhijit , Vellingiri Balachandar , Prince Sabina Evan
Published: December 2022

Liver diseases are responsible for global mortality and morbidity and are a significant cause of death worldwide. Consequently, the advancement of new liver disease targets is of great interest. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA), such as microRNA (miRNA) and long ncRNA (lncRNA), has been proven to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of virtually all acute and chronic liver disorders. Recent studies demonstrated the medical applications of miRNA in various phases of hepatic pathology. PPARs play a major role in regulating many signaling pathways involved in various metabolic disorders. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease in the world, encompassing a spectrum spanning from mild steatosis to severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). PPARs were found to be one of the major regulators in the progression of NAFLD. There is no recognized treatment for NAFLD, even though numerous clinical trials are now underway. NAFLD is a major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its frequency increases as obesity and diabetes become more prevalent. Reprogramming anti-diabetic and anti-obesity drugs is an effective therapy option for NAFLD and NASH. Several studies have also focused on the role of ncRNAs in the pathophysiology of NAFLD. The regulatory effects of these ncRNAs make them a primary target for treatments and as early biomarkers. In this study, the main focus will be to understand the regulation of PPARs through ncRNAs and their role in NAFLD.
Performance Study and Multi-Index Synergistic Effect Analysis of Phosphogypsum-Based Composite Cementitious Material
Authors: Chen Mingsheng , Liu Peng , Kong Dewen , Li Yuan , Chen Yao , Cui Gengyin , Wang Jingdong , Yu Ke , Wu Ningbo
Published: December 2022

The application of phosphogypsum in building materials can consume waste phosphogypsum and reduce ecological pressure. In this study, building phosphogypsum was used as the base material, and fly ash, lime, cement, and other materials were added to explore the performance of phosphogypsum-based cementitious composite building materials via orthogonal experimental method. Variance analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to summarize the performance variation of these phosphogypsum-based composite cementitious materials. This work demonstrates that the building phosphogypsum content and the water-cement mass ratio are significant factors affecting the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of these materials scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the mechanical properties and thermal insulation properties of the prepared phosphogypsum-based composite cementitious materials were good in the C-S-H gel system and ettringite formation uniform specimens. Regression analysis showed a significant relationship between the building phosphogypsum content, fly ash content in the supplementary cementitious material, lime content, water-cement mass ratio, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity. The compressive strength and the thermal conductivity were analyzed by the index membership degree. The comprehensive performance of the phosphogypsum-based composite cementitious materials was evaluated, and basic theoretical research into the use of the phosphogypsum-based composite cementitious materials in a building non-load-bearing wall was carried out.
Formation of α-Hemihydrate Inside of a Gypsum Crystal during the Dehydration Process
Authors: Pritzel Christian , Emami Mohammadamin , Afflerbach Sandra , Killian Manuela , Trettin Reinhard
Published: December 2022

Gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) is one of the most used inorganic binding materials in the world. During calcination, calcium sulfate subhydrates are formed and, for technical reasons, are mixed with water to form dihydrate again. Therefore, the dehydration process of gypsum and the rehydration of hemihydrate were investigated. This dehydration process is technically performed in three different ways. Heating up, i.e., in a rotary kiln, leads to a preferred formation of β-hemihydrate, which crystallizes in comparatively small crystals. Similar results can be achieved by recrystallization from gypsum slurry around 100 °C in an autoclave or under a water steam atmosphere. However, in contrast, the recrystallization process here leads to the formation of a larger, needle-like morphology and sometimes branched α-hemihydrate crystals. The synthesis of β-hemihydrate was investigated in detail with a special thermal stage for optical microscopy on natural single gypsum crystals. It was observed that the crystal loses transparency because of the breaking surface of the crystals due to water evaporation. Furthermore, within a deeper layer of the crystal, new crystals become visible but disappear during dehydration of the upper layers. These are expected to be α-hemihydrate. This theory of the formation of α-hemihydrate inside of a gypsum crystal is experimentally proven in the present work. This work firstly shows that the observed crystallization inside of gypsum during dehydration is the formation of alpha-hemihydrate.
Development and Phenotypic Plasticity of Tubes and Tubaria of the Living Graptolite Rhabdopleura recondita (Pterobranchia, Hemichordata)
Authors: Beli Elena , De Castro Mendonça Luana M. , Piraino Stefano , Cameron Christopher B.
Published: December 2022

The extant graptolite Rhabdopleura recondita has been so far recorded only as inhabiting a bryozoan skeleton. Its larval settlement and metamorphosis are possible in the absence of a bryozoan zoarium, whereas further colony development may require that the larva is hidden inside the bryozoan host. This dependence may constrain the development of R. recondita tube and tubaria compared to the other Rhabdopleura species that develop without a host. We report here on larval settlement and metamorphosis in the absence/presence of a bryozoan host skeleton. We also make the first attempt to test the phenotypical response of R. recondita tubes and tubaria under variable hydrodynamic regimes in laboratory conditions. After 40 days, no significant variation was detected in the number or length of the newly formed tubes. These findings suggest that R. recondita eventually resides in a narrow velocity range and that tube and tubarium development is largely invariable.
Home-Range Size and Space Use of Territorial Bonelli’s Eagles (Aquila fasciata) Tracked by High-Resolution GPS/GSM Telemetry
Authors: Morollón Sara , Urios Vicente , López-López Pascual
Published: December 2022

High-resolution GPS/GSM dataloggers provide spatial information of the highest quality, which outperform previous tracking methods, such as Argos telemetry or conventional VHF ground-tracking. As a result, this has improved our knowledge of home-range behavior and spatial ecology of many species, including large raptors. In this paper, we use high-resolution GPS/GSM dataloggers to assess the home-range size and the role of sex, season (breeding or non-breeding season), and breeding status (reproductive or non-reproductive individuals) on the space use of Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata). To this end, 51 territorial individuals (25 females and 26 males) were equipped with GPS/GSM transmitters and were tracked over 7 years (2015–2021) in eastern Spain. Overall, we recorded 4,791,080 fixes that were analyzed through kernel density methods (50%, 75%, and 95% fixed kernels). The average individual home-range size according to the 95%, 75%, and 50% kernels was 54.84 ± 20.78 km2, 24.30 ± 10.18 km2, and 11.17 ± 4.90 km2, respectively. Overall, the home-range size of individuals occupying the same territory was similar, mainly due to the cooperative hunting behavior exhibited by the species. We did not find interannual differences in the home-range size (95% fixed kernel) of the majority of individuals, showing a strong territorial fidelity of the breeding pairs. In general, females’ home-range size was slightly smaller than males’ size due to the decrease in activity in the breeding season as a result of laying, incubation, and chick attendance at nests. No seasonal variation in the 95% kernel was found, but it was found in the 75% and 50% kernels. In regard to the breeding status, higher home-range size was recorded in the non-reproductive individuals. Moreover, we found a low neighbor overlap among the territories (4.18% ± 3.06%), which evidences a high level of intraspecific competition in the Bonelli’s eagle. Finally, this study highlights the advantages of the use of accurate telemetry information to improve our understanding of the spatial ecology of the endangered Bonelli’s eagle, which ultimately will serve to better inform management actions for its conservation.
VAT-SNet: A Convolutional Music-Separation Network Based on Vocal and Accompaniment Time-Domain Features
Authors: Qiao Xiaoman , Luo Min , Shao Fengjing , Sui Yi , Yin Xiaowei , Sun Rencheng
Published: December 2022

The study of separating the vocal from the accompaniment in single-channel music is foundational and critical in the field of music information retrieval (MIR). Mainstream music-separation methods are usually based on the frequency-domain characteristics of music signals, and the phase information of the music is lost during time–frequency decomposition. In recent years, deep learning models based on speech time-domain signals, such as Conv-TasNet, have shown great potential. However, for the vocal and accompaniment separation problem, there is no suitable time-domain music-separation model. Since the vocal and the accompaniment in music have a higher synergy and similarity than the voices of two speakers in speech, separating the vocal and accompaniment using a speech-separation model is not ideal. Based on this, we propose VAT-SNet; this optimizes the network structure of Conv-TasNet, which sets sample-level convolution in the encoder and decoder to preserve deep acoustic features, and takes vocal embedding and accompaniment embedding generated by the auxiliary network as references to improve the purity of the separation of the vocal and accompaniment. The results from public music datasets show that the quality of the vocal and accompaniment separated by VAT-SNet is improved in GSNR, GSIR, and GSAR compared with Conv-TasNet and mainstream separation methods, such as U-Net, SH-4stack, etc.
Parameter Identification of Variable Flux Reluctance Machines Excited by Zero-Sequence Current Accounting for Inverter Nonlinearity
Authors: Guo Jiaqiang , Liu Xu , Lu Kaiyuan , Zhu Ziqiang
Published: December 2022

To identify the parameters of variable flux reluctance machines (VFRMs), the input voltage value is usually obtained from the reference voltage indirectly. However, the reference and actual voltages may be different due to the nonlinearity of the open winding inverter when using zero-sequence current, leading to the inaccuracy of parameter identification. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an equivalent nonlinearity voltage error model of the open winding inverter to compensate for the input voltage of VFRM during the online parameter identification. Since in the proposed method the phase current direction is not required, the calculation time can be reduced. Moreover, in the developed parameter identification model of VFRM the derived equivalent nonlinear voltage error is used to correct the input of the identification model so as to improve the accuracy of parameters. Finally, the experimental results on the prototype VFRM are presented for verification.
Simulation of Phase Change Material Absorbers for Passive Cooling of Solar Systems
Authors: Hassabou Abdelhakim , Isaifan Rima J.
Published: December 2022

One of the main challenges that face the reliable use of photovoltaic solar systems in hot arid regions is the prevailing high temperatures during the day. To overcome this issue, Phase Change Materials (PCM) are used for passive cooling providing different options to attain sufficient thermal management solutions for different applications. Passive cooling can be achieved by adjusting a heat sink to the solar PV module. This can be realized by attaching a PCM layer or sensible heat storage to the backside of PV panels. Few studies have reported on simplified modeling and numerical procedures using the apparent heat capacity formulation and volume averaging technique as a robust approach to solving such sophisticated problems with minimal computational efforts, high accuracy, and in a short period of time. However, there is still a need to bridge the large-scale gap between the macroscale within the PCM layer, with a moving melting front, and the length scale of PV modules. Hence, this work focuses on modeling and simulating PCM-Matrix Absorbers (PCM-MA) that consist of fibrous aluminum cellular structure filled with PCM for passive thermal management of PV panels using apparent heat capacity formulation and homogenization based on volume averaging technique. COMSOL Multiphysics FEM software was used for the numerical simulation of the phase change problem by using a Smoothed Heaviside step function to overcome the singularity of PCM challenge that arises with sharp melting temperatures. To validate the proposed model, it has been compared with a benchmark analytical solution for an ice melting problem, i.e., the Stefan problem, in a semi-finite slab, i.e., Neumann’s solution under the same assumptions and boundary conditions. The specific characteristics of phase change and evolution of melting front with time, heat capacity change with the temperature at different times, and with locations along the slab height are presented. As the phase change is modeled to take place over a mushy region, i.e., a narrow temperature interval rather than a sharp melting point, the results show a good coincidence of the heat capacity profile and its peak at different times and locations. The validated model can be used for the optimization of PCM-MA for any specific geographical location and other applications such as the passive cooling of buildings with PCM integrated with the outer envelope. To this end, the results of the simulation in this work are shown to be in agreement with those obtained from the analytical solution.
Mitigating Climate Change and the Development of Green Energy versus a Return to Fossil Fuels Due to the Energy Crisis in 2022
Authors: Borowski Piotr F.
Published: December 2022

The energy crisis that emerged as a result of the reduction in gas supplies from Russia is very topical and very important. This crisis affects not only Europe but also other world economies. As a result of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia, there was a drastic drop in Russian gas supplies, which triggered an increase in fuel prices and an energy crisis. In order to reduce the risk of insufficient gas supplies, European countries have decided to reuse coal and fossil fuels. This is the opposite direction to decarbonization and a zero-carbon economy. The undertaken research is unique, because the issue of slowing down the direction of decarbonization and returning to fossil fuels has not yet been extensively studied. Therefore, the analysis and research results are new in this area. The European project of green energy production from renewable energy sources that has been implemented so far, which aims to accelerate the implementation of a zero-emission economy, may be slowed down. Moreover, the return to fossil fuels will have a negative impact on climate change. The sharp increase in energy prices and the unexpected growth in the profits of energy companies meant that the European Commission introduced a limit on the revenues of enterprises in the energy sector. Surplus income is to be transferred to other entities to offset the drastic increase in energy prices. The conducted analysis showed how the European Union will try to ensure energy security and what the current actions related to climate protection and moving toward an environmentally friendly economy will be.
Root Development in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba Seedlings Expresses Contrasting Preferences to Nitrogen Forms
Authors: Liang Haiyan , Wang Lidong , Wang Yanru , Quan Xiaoqiang , Li Xiaoyu , Xiao Yaning , Yan Xiaoli
Published: December 2022

The inorganic nitrogen (N) that can be absorbed and utilized by plants is mainly ammonium N (NH4+-N) and nitrate N (NO3−-N), which may affect seedlings’ root morphology and growth through its heterogeneous distribution. Root morphology and seedling growth were investigated in a subtropical major conifer (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and a broadleaf tree species (Schima superba) under five different NH4+-N to NO3−-N ratios (10:0, 0:10, 7:3, 3:7, 5:5). Results: (1) While both species developed thinner roots under the treatment with a high NO3−-N concentration, the roots of C. lanceolata were longer than those of S. superba. In contrast, the roots of both species were thicker under the treatment with a high NH4+-N concentration, with those in S. superba being much longer than those in C. lanceolata. (2) The mixed NH4+-N and NO3−-N treatments were more conducive to the aboveground growth and biomass accumulation of both tree species and the underground growth of S. superba. N sources with high NO3−-N concentrations were more suitable for underground growth in C. lanceolata seedlings and aboveground growth in S. superba seedlings. Under the N sources with high NH4+-N concentrations, C. lanceolata tended to develop aboveground parts and S. superba tended to develop underground parts. (3) The roots of the two tree species adopted the expansion strategy of increasing the specific root length and reducing the root tissue density under the N sources with high NO3−-N concentrations but the opposite with high NH4+-N concentrations. The root-to-shoot ratio of C. lanceolata increased under high NO3−-N concentrations, while that of S. superba increased under high NO3−-N concentrations. These results indicate that the responses of root morphology to different N forms are species-specific. Furthermore, according to the soil’s N status, NH4+-N can be appropriately applied to C. lanceolata and NO3−-N to S. superba for cultivating seedlings.
Land Use Preference for Ecosystem Services and Well-Being in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
Authors: Ahammad Ronju , Stacey Natasha , Sunderland Terry , Sangha Kamaljit K.
Published: December 2022

Researchers increasingly investigate ecosystem services to assess their role in supporting livelihoods, well-being and economic value in order to inform decision-making. Many studies have explored links between ecosystem services and community-based livelihoods, with a very narrow focus on the importance of land use to well-being. We evaluated the value of ecosystem services from various land uses supporting livelihoods and the overall well-being of local communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. By applying a participatory habitat valuation approach with the ethnic communities from eight villages, we explored their preferences for, and perceptions of, ecosystem services and their sources in a multi-functional landscape under different land use, i.e., forest, swidden and low-land agriculture, fruit orchard and water bodies, and three land ownership contexts (state, private and mixed ownership on forest lands). Our findings revealed that community land use preference for ecosystem services supports ten different well-being needs. Among others, forests were valued land used for two-thirds of well-being needs, including the provision of shelter, nutrition, primary health care, an adequate supply of potable water, a lower level of ecological stress (i.e., protection from associated landslide soil erosion), cultural and spiritual benefits and livestock foraging. People commonly valued the food, income and nutrition contributions of all land uses. However, different forest and land ownership contexts and rights within the landscape influence people’s preference for ecosystem services from land use in supporting their well-being. People with secure ownership (i.e., private and private-community) showed a broad and positive appreciation for ecosystem services to meet their well-being needs. Our study highlights that local and ethnic people’s land-use preferences and ownership contexts are critical factors in assessing well-being in the context of multifunctional landscapes. We recommend that ecosystem services be considered in future decision-making related to forest and land use to support human well-being.
The Application of Terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging to Forest Resource Inventories for Timber Yield and Carbon Sink Estimation
Authors: Ko ChiUng , Lee JooWon , Kim Donggeun , Kang JinTaek
Published: December 2022

New technologies are utilized to improve forest management, but they require the collection and analysis of digital data. This study assessed the applicability of using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) devices for the examination of forest resource inventories to obtain digital forest resource information. Two terrestrial LiDARs, a backpack laser scanner (BPLS) and a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) were used and compared with the traditional method to identify which was optimal. The findings showed that the TLS single-scan method was least accurate due to occlusion. The TLS multi-scan method and the BPLS showed high levels of accuracy for the height and diameter at breast height (DBH) estimates in most sample plots. However, the BPLS underestimated height to a greater extent than the other methods in a sloped plot (24°). Nevertheless, the efficiency of the BPLS was 2.8 times higher than that of the TLS when considering the amount of time spent on completing all indoor and outdoor tasks. Thus, these results prove that the utilization of LiDAR devices increases the efficiency of data collection and overcomes the limitations of existing methods. Moreover, they provide accurate information that will be a basis for forest management plans, the estimation of biomass, and the transaction of forest products.
Vegetation Shift of Juniperus macropoda Boisser Forest in Response to Climate Change in North-Western Himalayas, India
Authors: Kumar Dhirender , Bhardwaj Daulat R. , Thakur Chaman L. , Sharma Prashant , Ayele Gebiaw T.
Published: December 2022

The cold desert ecosystem of the north-western Himalaya in India’s is considered to be the most vulnerable region to climate change. In this region, Juniperus macropoda Boisser grows across an altitudinal gradient and is highly sensitive to biotic, physiographic, and climatic factors. Keeping this in view, the present study aimed at ascertaining the response of Juniperus macropoda to changing climatic conditions. To achieve the target of the study, the area (elevation ranges from 3525 to 4150 m asl) was divided into thirteen elevation ranges in the cold desert of Lahaul valley (Himachal Pradesh). The NDVI change detection map from 1994–2017 revealed an increase in the area under the vegetation in the NDVI range of 0–0.15 (240%) and 0.15–0.30 (32%), which indicated the emergence of grasses and new recruits in the area. An increase in the minimum and maximum temperature during monsoon and post-monsoon season correlated positively with the emergence of the recruits in a significant manner. Furthermore, a decline in rainfall during the monsoon period was also recorded which bears a significant positive correlation with the establishment of recruits. However, the increase in the precipitation during winter resulted in a positive effect on the emergence of recruits. The biophysical parameters, like average height, diameter as well as the average age of the dominant trees showed a declining trend with the elevation. However, the age histogram revealed that the majority of the establishment occurred around 1900 and between 1975–2010. The tree ring analysis of J. macropoda revealed that the species is shifting upward at a rate of 3.91 m year−1. Besides this, the area is experiencing the impact of climate change resulting in an increase in the area under vegetation and migration towards the higher elevation, and many species of lichens were also found to invade the bare rock.
London Plane Tree Pollen and Pla A 1 Allergen Concentrations Assessment in Urban Environments
Authors: Álvarez-López Sabela , Fernández-González María , Sánchez Espinosa Kenia Caridad , Amigo Rubén , Rodríguez-Rajo Francisco Javier
Published: December 2022

The London plane tree is frequently used in gardens, parks, and avenues in European urban areas for ornamental purposes with the aim to provide shade, and given its tolerance to atmospheric pollution. Nevertheless, unfortunately, over recent decades, bioaerosols such as Platanus pollen grains cause increasing human health problems such as allergies or respiratory tract infections. An aerobiological sampling of airborne Platanus pollen and Pla a 1 allergen was performed using two volumetric traps placed on the roof of the Science Faculty building of the city of Ourense from 2009 to 2020. A volumetric sampler Hirst–type Lanzoni VPPS 2000 (Lanzoni s.r.l. Bologna, Italy) was used for pollen sampling. Pla a 1 aeroallergen was sampled by using a Burkard Multi-Vial Cyclone Sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Hertfordshire, UK) and by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Data mining algorithms, C5.0 decision trees, and rule-based models were assessed to evaluate the effects of the main meteorological factors in the pollen or allergen concentrations. Plane trees bloom in late winter and spring months in the Northwestern Spain area. Regarding the trends of the parameters that define the Platanus pollen season, the allergen values fitted the concentrations of pollen in the air in most cases. In addition, it was observed that a decrease in maximum temperatures causes a descent in both pollen and allergen concentrations. However, the presence of precipitations only increases the level of allergens. When the risk of allergy symptomatology was jointly assessed for both the concentration of pollen and allergens in the study area, the number of days with moderate and high risk for pollen allergy in sensitive people increased with respect to traditional alerts considering only the pollen values.
Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on the Proliferation, Hormone Secretion Level, and Gene Expression Profiles of Goat Ovarian Granulosa Cells
Authors: Ji Taotao , Chen Xiang , Zhang Yan , Fu Kaibin , Zou Yue , Wang Weiwei , Zhao Jiafu
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the proliferation, hormone secretion, and mRNA expression profiles of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in vitro. A total of 12 ovaries from 6 follicular-stage goats were collected for granulosa cell extraction. The optimum concentration of NAC addition was determined to be 200 μM via the Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) method. Next, GCs were cultured in a medium supplemented with 200 μM NAC (200 μM NAC group) and 0 μ M NAC (control group) for 48 h. The effects of 200 μM NAC on the proliferation of granulosa cells and hormones were studied by 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing. The results indicate that 200 μM NAC significantly increased cell viability and the proportion of cells in the S phase but promoted hormone secretion to a lesser degree. Overall, 122 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A total of 51 upregulated and 71 downregulated genes were included. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that the most DEGs were enriched in terms of cell growth regulation, cell growth, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, the cAMP-signaling pathway, and the Wnt-signaling pathway. Seven genes related to granulosa cell proliferation were screened, IGFBP4, HTRA4, SST, SSTR1, WISP1, DAAM2, and RSPO2. The above results provide molecular theoretical support for NAC as a feed additive to improve follicle development and improve reproductive performance in ewes.
Fear of the Queen’s Speed: Trauma and Departure in The Winter’s Tale
Authors: Bicks Caroline
Published: December 2022

The essay applies trauma theory to early modern understandings of grief and its contagious after-effects to provide new ways to think about the figuring of trauma’s reach into individual embodied minds and their environments, and about its larger impacts on narrative structures, theatrical spaces, and the people who populated them. To do so, I turn to Shakespeare’s most deliberately tricky play, The Winter’s Tale, and to its undeniably traumatized Queen Hermione, who defies the laws of time, space, and motion to an extent unmatched by any other human character in his canon. The essay explores how Shakespeare imagines and mobilizes the aggrieved Hermione; and how her departure and repeated, belated returns play out different forms and effects of traumatic response. These include the gaps and eruptions endemic to the processes of accommodating the impossible and listening to stories that are structured around absence and aporia. It is my contention that in his later play he was experimenting with how those effects could spill out beyond the brains and bodies of trauma’s original victims, and transform the people and spaces beyond them.
The Relationship between Self- and Peer Assessment in Higher Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: Concina Eleonora
Published: December 2022

Background: To promote a student-centered approach and sustain the development of a self-regulated attitude toward academic achievement, assessment in higher education should integrate different perspectives: teachers’ feedback is crucial, but it needs to be supported by self-assessment and peer assessment activities. Methods: The aim of the current systematic review is to examine the most recent literature (from 2011 to 2022) on these topics, considering the relevant findings that may have theoretical and practical applications in higher-education settings. Three of the broadest online databases for educational research (ERIC EBSCO, Science Direct, Web of Science) were considered for the search, which resulted in 30 documents being retrieved and considered in the analysis. Results: Self- and peer assessment seems to be two distinct processes that may complement and influence each other; although they seem particularly accessible, effectively assessing one’s own work and giving one’s peers useful feedback is not an easy task, due to several specific cognitive and social issues. Conclusions: The findings show an increasing interest in these topics, with particular attention to the potential benefits that could be derived from a combined and effective use of these assessment processes in higher education.
Development of Simple Sequence REPEAT Markers for Genetic Diversity Analysis Based on the cDNA Sequences of Chinese Yam (Dioscorea spp.)
Authors: Wang Hong , Wang Yue , Xiong Lingzhi , Chen Yingde , Sun Jiali , Ouyang Changdong , Li Baihua , Zeng Hanyi , Chen Xiaorong , Luan Mingbao
Published: December 2022

Chinese yam, with its rich taste and high nutritive value, has remained an essential part of Chinese cuisine. As China is rich in yam germplasm resources, understanding the genetic diversity of local varieties, which is important for the proper management, conservation, variety improvement, and sustainable utilization of yam germplasms, is crucial. In this study, an Illumina Hi-seq 2500 sequencing (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) system was used to sequence cDNA libraries of root, stem, and leaf tissues of Chinese yam; 14,450 unigenes containing SSR sites were identified from the transcriptome dataset. About half of the SSRs were mononucleotides and approximately 23% were dinucleotides and trinucleotides. In addition, 100 SSR primers were randomly designed for PCR and polymorphism verification. A total of 32 yam materials used in the study were identified by 24 primer pairs. Based on the Qinling-Huaihe River line, the northern and southern germplasms were divided into different taxa, but no clear geographical pattern was observed in the southern germplasms. The 32 germplasms were also divided into three categories using a clustering analysis, with samples in the same group possessing similar morphological characters. These 24 newly identified SSR markers can provide the basis for the genetic identification, diversity analysis, and marker-assisted selection breeding of Dioscoreaceae.
Emotional Recognition and Its Relation to Cognition, Mood and Fatigue in Relapsing–Remitting and Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Argento Ornella , Piacentini Chiara , Bossa Michela , Nocentini Ugo
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Emotional recognition (ER), the ability to read into others’ minds and recognize others’ emotional states, is important in social environment adaptation. Recently it has been found that ER difficulties affect patients with multiple sclerosis (pMS) and relate to different gray matter atrophy patterns from secondary progressive (SP-pMS) and relapsing–remitting (RR-pMS). The aim of this study was to compare the performances of the two MS phenotypes on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RMEt) and other cognitive, mood and fatigue measures. We also examined associations between performance on the RMEt and cognitive, mood and fatigue variables. (2) Methods: A total of 43 pMS (27RR-pMS/16SP-pMS) underwent a clinical assessment, the RMEt, the cognitive battery, and completed mood and fatigue questionnaires. Both groups’ performances on the RMEt were then correlated with all these measures. (3) Results: the RMEt scores of RR-pMS were significantly correlated with the impairment degree in some cognitive scores. SP-pMS scores correlated mainly with fatigue, anxiety, anger and depression. (4) Conclusions: ER performances relate to cognitive aspects in RR-pMS, whereas mainly to mood outcomes in the SP-pMS group. We can hypothesize that deficits in ER are a further sign of disease progression. Our data support the different roles of cognitive and emotional deficits related to different disease courses and lesional correlates.
Long-Term Changes in Vertical Jump, H:Q Ratio and Interlimb Asymmetries in Young Female Volleyball Athletes
Authors: Abad Cesar Cavinato Cal , Lopes Marcos Winicius Rodrigues , Lara Jerusa Petróvna Resende , Oliveira Anderson Jose Santana , da Silva Raphael Planas Correa , Facin Elder Aparecido , Izar Antonio Jose , Teixeira Fabiano Gomes
Published: December 2022

The present study aimed to examine the changes that occurred in vertical jump and isokinetic dynamometer (ISK) performances at the beginning of a preparatory period (PRE) and at the start of the competitive period (POST). Sixteen U-17 elite female volleyball players, from a national level (15.34 ± 1.19 years; 66.35 ± 7.95 kg; 169.22 ± 24.79 cm), performed bilateral squat jump (SJ), bilateral and unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) and unilateral ISK tests for knee flexors (Fl) and extensors (Ex) both at 60°/s and at 300°/s. Peak torque (PT) and the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratio were assessed by concentric actions. Asymmetries were calculated by the percentage differences between dominant (DOM) and nondominant legs (NDOM). The paired Student’s t-test was used for comparisons at a level of significance of 5%. The effect size was also calculated. A significant increase was found for both SJ (15%; p = 0.004; ES = 0.82) and CMJ (12%; p = 0.017; ES = 0.62). The PT of NDOM flexors at 60°/s was significantly lower than DOM both at PRE (4.6%; p = 0.048; ES = −0.22) and POST (6.3%; p = 0.037; ES = −0.33). The NDOM extensors at 60°/s had a significantly lower PT than DOM at POST (7.0%; p = 0.048; ES = −0.23). Both DOM and NDOM flexors at 60°/s had a PT enhancement at POST related to PRE (6.7%; p = 0.031; ES = 0.51 and 5.6%; p = 0.037; ES = 0.48, respectively). The PT of NDOM extensors at 300°/s increased at POST in comparison to PRE (7.9%; p = 0.038; ES = 0.27). The NDOM at 300°/s had a H:Q ratio higher than DOM both in PRE and POST (8.6%; p = 0.041; ES = 0.37 and 11.6%; p = 0.013; ES = 0.71, respectively), and the highest H:Q ratios were lower than the reference values (<80%). The asymmetry of the unilateral CMJ was higher at POST than at PRE (102%; p = 0.03; ES = 0.81). The PT for the flexors at 300°/s and the H:Q ratio at POST exceeded 10%. In conclusion, a training program of 15 weeks increased the neuromuscular performance of young volleyball athletes, but many H:Q ratios and asymmetries remained out of the normal recommendation. Volleyball professionals should carefully apply an adequate training program to enhance physical fitness performance without increasing the risk of lower limb injuries concurrently.
Does Smart City Construction Reduce Haze Pollution?
Authors: Wang Li , Xie Qian , Xue Fei , Li Zongxin
Published: December 2022

Smart city construction plays an important role in environmental governance and public health. Based on the panel data of 216 prefecture-level cities across China during the period 2009–2018, this study uses the multi-time difference-in-differences method to evaluate the haze reduction effect of smart city construction. The estimated results demonstrate that the construction of smart cities can reduce haze pollution in pilot cities significantly. The main conduction mechanisms are the technical effects and the environmental regulatory effects that promote the reduction of corporate emissions. The heterogeneity analyses show that the haze reduction effect of smart city construction is more evident in southern cities, inland cities and resource-efficient cities. In addition, the benefit analyses show that smart cities can reduce the carbon emission intensity and promote economic growth. These results provide empirical support for accelerating the construction of a new type of smart city and building a new type of people-oriented urbanization.
Predictors of Students’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Impact of Coping Strategies, Sense of Coherence, and Social Support
Authors: Torinomi Charlotte , Lindenberg Katajun , Möltner Andreas , Herpertz Sabine C. , Holm-Hadulla Rainer M.
Published: December 2022

Young people and women seem to suffer more from social restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic than do others. Findings from pre-pandemic surveys identified students as a specific risk group for developing anxiety and depressive symptoms. Recent studies have indicated that students especially denoted a decrease in mental health during the pandemic. In a sample of n = 1938 university students (67.6% female), we investigated protective factors that are associated with mental health (defined as the absence of any mental disorder) and more specifically, the absence of major depression during the pandemic despite social restrictions. Investigated protective factors were social support, sense of coherence and situational coping strategies. The results of the multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that male gender, high sense of coherence and specific coping strategies could be identified to be associated with mental health in general and the absence of major depression. Protective coping strategies that were related to mental health in general were lower substance use, lower behavioral disengagement, higher positive reframing and lower self-blame. Protective coping strategies that were associated with the absence of major depression specifically were higher use of instrumental support, lower substance use, lower behavioral disengagement, higher positive reframing, higher emotional support, lower self-blame and lower humor. Social support was related to the absence of major depression, but not to mental health in general. Higher age in university students was associated with better mental health, but not with the absence of major depression specifically. These findings indicate that sense of coherence and situational coping strategies can buffer the adverse effect of social restrictions on mental health and thus, can serve as important resilience factors. Moreover, they highlight the political relevance of promoting specific coping strategies to foster mental health in students encompassing adverse events and social restrictions.