bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Sizing and Allocation of Distributed Generation in the Radial Power Distribution System Using Honey Badger Algorithm
Authors: Khan Muhammad Haris , Ulasyar Abasin , Khattak Abraiz , Zad Haris Sheh , Alsharef Mohammad , Alahmadi Ahmad Aziz , Ullah Nasim
Published: August 2022

There is increasing growth in load demands and financial strain to upgrade the present power distribution system. It faces challenges such as power losses, voltage deviations, lack of reliability and voltage instability. There is also a sense of responsibility in the wake of environmental and energy crises to adopt distributed renewable resources for power generation. These challenges can be resolved by optimally allocating distributed generators (DGs) at different suitable locations in the radial power distribution system. Optimal allocation is a non-linear problem which is solved by powerful metaheuristic optimization algorithms. In this work, an objective function is introduced to optimally size four different types of DGs by utilizing honey badger algorithm (HBA), and comparison is drawn with grey wolf optimization (GWO) and whale optimization algorithm (WOA). The objective is to boost the voltage profile and minimize the power losses of the standard IEEE 33bus and 69-bus radial power distribution system. It is observed from the simulation results that honey badger algorithm is faster than grey wolf optimization and whale optimization algorithm in reaching accurate and optimum results in a mere one and two iterations for IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus systems, respectively. Additionally, power losses are reduced to 71% and 70% for IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus, respectively.
Sensitivity Analysis of Fluid–Fluid Interfacial Area, Phase Saturation and Phase Connectivity on Relative Permeability Estimation Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Mukherjee Sanchay , Johns Russell T.
Published: August 2022

Recent studies have shown that relative permeability can be modeled as a state function which is independent of flow direction and dependent upon phase saturation (S), phase connectivity (X), and fluid–fluid interfacial area (A). This study evaluates the impact of each of the three state parameters (S, X, and A) in the estimation of relative permeability. The relative importance of the three state parameters in four separate quadrants of S-X-A space was evaluated using a machine learning algorithm (out-of-bag predictor importance method). The results show that relative permeability is sensitive to all the three parameters, S, X, and A, with varying magnitudes in each of the four quadrants at a constant value of wettability. We observe that the wetting-phase relative permeability is most sensitive to saturation, while the non-wetting phase is most sensitive to phase connectivity. Although the least important, fluid–fluid interfacial area is still important to make the relative permeability a more exact state function.
Numerical Simulation of Ventilation Performance in Mushroom Solar Greenhouse Design
Authors: Li Yiming , Sun Fujun , Shi Wenbin , Liu Xingan , Li Tianlai
Published: August 2022

Numerical simulation is an effective tool for the thermal management of propulsion systems. Moreover, it contributes to the design and performance assessment of solar greenhouses for mushroom ventilation. Because the planning and design of the clustered solar greenhouse are still undiscovered, this study has developed a 3-D mathematical model suitable for a large-scale park of mushroom solar greenhouses based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) theory. The effects of the orientation arrangement, horizontal spacing, vertical spacing of the cultivation racks, and the building distance between adjacent greenhouses on the ventilation performance were analyzed. The numerical simulation showed good agreement with the experimental measurement. The CFD results indicated that the reasonable layout of cultivation racks in mushroom solar greenhouses is a north-south arrangement. The horizontal spacing of cultivation racks has a significant influence on the wind speed and cooling rate, and the optimal spacing is 0.8 m. The overall height of the cultivation racks has little effect on the ventilation performance. Nevertheless, the vertical spacing between cultivation rack layers has a remarkable effect, and the optimal vertical spacing is 0.29 m. Reducing the building distance between the two adjacent greenhouses within a certain range helps increase the ventilation efficiency, leading to an increase in land utilization in the greenhouse park. The optimal building distance between the adjacent greenhouses is 10 m. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for improving the production quality and land utilization of mushroom facilities.
Climatic and Topographic Variables Improve Estimation Accuracy of Patula Pine Forest Site Productivity in Southern Mexico
Authors: Nava-Nava Adan , Santiago-García Wenceslao , Quiñonez-Barraza Gerónimo , Santos-Posadas Héctor Manuel de los , Valdez-Lazalde José René , Ángeles-Pérez Gregorio
Published: August 2022

Sustainable forest management requires accurate biometric tools to estimate forest site quality. This is particularly relevant for prescribing adequate silvicultural treatments of forest management planning. The aim of this research was to incorporate topographic and climatic variables into dominant height growth models of patula pine stands to improve the estimation of forest stand productivity. Three generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) models were fit to a dataset from 66 permanent sampling plots, with six re-measurements and 77 temporary inventory sampling plots established on forest stands of patula pine. The nested iterative approach was used to fit the GADA models, and goodness-of-fit statistics such as the root mean square error, Akaike’s Information Criterion, and Bias were used to assess their performance. A Hossfeld IV GADA equation type that includes altitude, slope percentage, mean annual precipitation, and mean annual minimum temperature produced the best fit and estimation. Forest site productivity was negatively affected by altitude, while increasing the mean annual minimum temperature suggested the fastest-growing rates for dominant tree height.
Establishing an Evaluation Framework for Endangered Species Conservation Preferences for the Eurasian Otter
Authors: Lin Yi-Hsing , Lee Chun-Hung , Hong Chun-Fu
Published: August 2022

Wildlife conservation and management are critical issues that attract substantial attention. To develop a sustainable conservation project for the Kinmen Eurasian otter, the present study established a wildlife conservation framework and constructed a management program suitable for Kinmen Eurasian otter conservation based on the preferences of tourists and residents. The results of this study show that residents and tourists were not satisfied with the current status of Eurasian otter conservation in Kinmen and were willing to pay to change the status quo. Respondents preferred to maintain and artificially construct otter habitats, increase the otter population, limit traffic speed and establish underpasses, Kinmen Eurasian otter products, and educational parks. The findings of the market segmentation analysis divided respondents into two groups, passive conservationists and active conservationists. Both groups preferred protecting the Kinmen Eurasian otter to some extent. Passive conservationists, which included mostly residents and individuals with lower levels of education, lacked awareness of the Kinmen Eurasian otter and preferred to establish Kinmen Eurasian otter products and educational parks. Active conservationists were primarily tourists with higher levels of education who were familiar with the Kinmen Eurasian otter and had previously participated in Kinmen Eurasian otter conservation activities. These tourists preferred all conservation attributes and levels. Both groups of conservationists disliked the decline in the number of Eurasian otters in Kinmen. In addition to understanding respondents’ preferences for conservation strategies, these findings reveal the importance of promoting education about the Kinmen Eurasian otter.
Environmental and Plant-Derived Controls on the Seasonality and Partitioning of Soil Respiration in an American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Bioenergy Plantation Grown at Different Planting Densities
Authors: Morkoc Suna , Aguilos Maricar , Noormets Asko , Minick Kevan J. , Ile Omoyemeh , Dickey David A. , Hardesty Deanna , Kerrigan Maccoy , Heitman Joshua , King John
Published: August 2022

Bioenergy is one of the most considered alternatives to fossil fuels. Short-rotation woody crops (SRWCs) as bioenergy sources are capable of alleviating energy constraints and sequestering atmospheric CO2. However, studies investigating soil carbon (C) dynamics at SWRC plantations are scarce. We studied American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) as a model tree species for SRWC at different planting densities ((1) 0.5 × 2.0 m (10,000 trees·ha−1 or tph), (2) 1.0 × 2.0 m (5000 tph), and (3) 2.0 × 2.0 m (2500 tph)) to examine seasonal variation in total soil respiration (Rtotal), partitioned into heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic (Ra) respiration, and we evaluated climatic and biological controls on soil respiration. Rtotal and Rh exhibited larger seasonal variation than Ra (p < 0.05). During the nongrowing seasons, the average Rtotal was 0.60 ± 0.21 g·C·m−2·day−1 in winter and 1.41 ± 0.73 g·C·m−2·day−1 in fall. During the growing season, Rtotal was 2–7 times higher in spring (3.49 ± 1.44 g·C·m−2·day−1) and summer (4.01 ± 1.17 g·C·m−2·day−1) than winter. Average Rtotal was 2.30 ± 0.63 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 2500 tph, 2.43 ± 0.64 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 5000 tph, and 2.41 ± 0.75 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 10,000 tph treatments. Average Rh was 1.72 ± 0.40 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 2500 tph, 1.57 ± 0.39 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 5000 tph, and 1.93 ± 0.64 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 10,000 tph, whereas Ra had the lowest rates, with 0.59 ± 0.53 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 2500 tph, 0.86 ± 0.51 g·C·m−2·d−1 in 5000 tph, and 0.48 ± 0.34 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 10,000 tph treatments. Rh had a greater contribution to Rtotal (63%–80%) compared to Ra (20%–37%). Soil temperature was highly correlated to Rtotal (R2 = 0.92) and Rh (R2 = 0.77), while the correlation to Ra was weak (R2 = 0.21). Rtotal, Rh, and Ra significantly declined with soil water content extremes (e.g., <20% or >50%). Total root biomass in winter (469 ± 127 g·C·m−2) was smaller than in summer (616 ± 161 g·C·m−2), and the relationship of total root biomass to Rtotal, Rh, and Ra was only significant during the growing seasons (R2 = 0.12 to 0.50). The litterfall in 5000 tph (121 ± 16 g DW·m−2) did not differ (p > 0.05) from the 2500 tph (108 ± 16 g DW·m−2) or 10,000 tph (132 ± 16 g DW·m−2) treatments. In no circumstances were Rtotal, Rh, and Ra significantly correlated with litterfall amount across planting densities and seasons (p > 0.05). Overall, our results show that Rtotal in American sycamore SRWC is dominated by the heterotrophic component (Rh), is strongly correlated to soil environmental conditions, and can be minimized by planting at a certain tree density (5000 tph).
Study on the Effect of Bridge Deck Spacing on Characteristics of Smoke Temperature Field in a Bridge Fire
Authors: An Weiguang , Shi Lei , Wang Hailei , Zhang Taike
Published: August 2022

The numerical simulation method is used to simulate the distribution characteristics of the smoke temperature field of a double-deck bridge smoke temperature field during tanker fire under natural ventilation. The influence of the distance between double decks on the truss and ceiling temperature field change in the double-deck bridge is investigated. The results show that the range of high-temperature area gradually decreases with the increase in bridge deck spacing. The maximum excess temperature function of the tunnel ceiling is also applicable to the bridge, but the coefficient is smaller than that of the tunnel experimental formula. An equation is proposed to predict the maximum excess temperature of the truss under different bridge deck spacings. As the bridge deck spacing increases, the maximum excess temperature decreases. The excess temperature of the truss increases along the truss, and the maximum excess temperature appears at the top of the truss. Based on the energy equation, an equation for the excess temperature of the truss is established. As the vertical height increases, the excess temperature of the truss above the fire source exponentially increases. The research results will contribute to the fire hazard evaluation and safety design of bridges.
The Static Analysis of the Gas Content and the Gas-Dynamic Characteristics at the Second Potash Bed in the Starobinsk Potassium Salts Deposit
Authors: Andreyko Sergey S. , Litvinovskaya Natalya , Papulov Artem , Lyalina Tamara
Published: August 2022

The use of the new mining technology on the Third potash bed at the Starobinsk potash salt deposit is accompanied by the displacement of the undermined rocks. The displacement is accompanied by the foliation. The gas accumulates in the resulting foliation. The gas accumulations in the roof or the floor rocks can be the cause of a rockburst. A rockburst poses a threat to the miners’ lives, breaks driving and wide equipment and stops the working activity of the mines. Therefore, the study of the underworking effect on the gas content and the gas-dynamic characteristics are relevant problems in mining science. Thus, the purpose of this work is the study of the underworking effect on the gas content and the gas-dynamic characteristics. The τ criterion was used for testing the data samples. At the second stage of the comparative statistical analysis, two hypotheses H0 and H1 were accepted which were later subjected to verification using Student’s t-test. The gas parameters are changed by the camera floor and are not changed by other places. Therefore, the effect of the rock underworking leads to the formation of the additional foliation of the floor and, accordingly, to the free gases’ redistribution along the stratigraphic section and, ultimately, to the significant changes of the free gas content, the starting gas release and the gas pressure. The validity of the effect of the undermining can be the intensive gas releases repeatedly recorded in the process of drilling research holes into the soil with the ejection of a piece of the rock.
The Future Packaging of the Food Industry: The Development and Characterization of Innovative Biobased Materials with Essential Oils Added
Authors: Puscaselu Roxana Gheorghita , Lobiuc Andrei , Gutt Gheorghe
Published: August 2022

The need to replace conventional, usually single-use, packaging materials, so important for the future of resources and of the environment, has propelled research towards the development of packaging-based on biopolymers, fully biodegradable and even edible. The current study furthers the research on development of such films and tests the modification of the properties of the previously developed biopolymeric material, by adding 10, respectively 20% w/v essential oils of lemon, grapefruit, orange, cinnamon, clove, mint, ginger, eucalypt, and chamomile. Films with a thickness between 53 and 102 µm were obtained, with a roughness ranging between 147 and 366 nm. Most films had a water activity index significantly below what is required for microorganism growth, as low as 0.27, while all essential oils induced microbial growth reduction or 100% inhibition. Tested for the evaluation of physical, optical, microbiological or solubility properties, all the films with the addition of essential oil in the composition showed improved properties compared to the control sample.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of ALDH18A1 and MAT2A Genes and Their Genetic Associations with Milk Production Traits of Chinese Holstein Cows
Authors: Ye Wen , Xu Lingna , Li Yanhua , Liu Lin , Ma Zhu , Sun Dongxiao , Han Bo
Published: August 2022

Our preliminary work had suggested two genes, aldehyde dehydrogenase 18 family member A1 (ALDH18A1) and methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A), related to amino acid synthesis and metabolism as candidates affecting milk traits by analyzing the liver transcriptome and proteome of dairy cows at different lactation stages. In this study, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ALDH18A1 and MAT2A genes were identified and their genetic effects and underlying causative mechanisms on milk production traits in dairy cattle were analyzed, with the aim of providing effective genetic information for the molecular breeding of dairy cows. By resequencing the entire coding and partial flanking regions of ALDH18A1 and MAT2A, we found eight SNPs located in ALDH18A1 and two in MAT2A. Single-SNP association analysis showed that most of the 10 SNPs of these two genes were significantly associated with the milk yield traits, 305-day milk yield, fat yield, and protein yield in the first and second lactations (corrected p ≤ 0.0488). Using Haploview 4.2, we found that the seven SNPs of ALDH18A1 formed two haplotype blocks; subsequently, the haplotype-based association analysis showed that both haplotypes were significantly associated with 305-day milk yield, fat yield, and protein yield (corrected p ≤ 0.014). Furthermore, by Jaspar and Genomatix software, we found that 26:g.17130318 C>A and 11:g.49472723G>C, respectively, in the 5′ flanking region of ALDH18A1 and MAT2A genes changed the transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), which might regulate the expression of corresponding genes to affect the phenotypes of milk production traits. Therefore, these two SNPs were considered as potential functional mutations, but they also require further verification. In summary, ALDH18A1 and MAT2A were proved to probably have genetic effects on milk production traits, and their valuable SNPs might be used as candidate genetic markers for dairy cattle’s genomic selection (GS).
Prognostic Analysis of the IDH1 G105G (rs11554137) SNP in IDH-Wildtype Glioblastoma
Authors: Saaid Ayoub , Monticelli Matteo , Ricci Alessia Andrea , Orlando Giulia , Botta Cristina , Zeppa Pietro , Bianconi Andrea , Osella-Abate Simona , Bruno Francesco , Pellerino Alessia , Rudà Roberta , Cassoni Paola , Garbossa Diego , Cofano Fabio , Bertero Luca
Published: August 2022

The G105G SNP (rs11554137) in the IDH1 gene is observed in about 10–15% of patients with a diffuse glioma. Data regarding its impact on gliomas are poor and partially conflicting, possibly due to the evolving classification of CNS tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the G105G SNP prognostic significance in a homogenous cohort of IDH-wildtype glioblastomas, in agreement with the 2021 WHO classification. The study analyzed 211 patients by collecting several clinico-pathological and molecular characteristics, including the age, lesion localization, number of involved lobes, type of surgical treatment, disease outcome and MGMT promoter methylation status. PFS and DSS curves were plotted according to the Kaplan–Meier method and statistical analyses were performed using parametric and non-parametric tests. A total of 32 patients out of 211 (15.2%) were found to be G105G SNP carriers. No significant impact of the IDH1 G105G SNP on patients’ outcomes was observed in terms of PFS and DSS, while MGMT promoter methylation and gross total resection resulted as key prognostic factors in our cohort as expected. No prognostic impact of the IDH1 G105G SNP was detected in this strict cohort of IDH-wildtype glioblastomas. Analysis of larger cohorts is warranted to address the sample size limitations.
Transcriptomic and Phenotypic Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated gluk2 Knockout in Zebrafish
Authors: Yan Qianqian , Li Wenhao , Gong Xiaoting , Hu Ruiqin , Chen Liangbiao
Published: August 2022

As a subtype of kainite receptors (KARs), GluK2 plays a role in the perception of cold in the periphery sensory neuron. However, the molecular mechanism for gluk2 on the cold stress in fish has not been reported. In this article, real-time PCR assays showed that gluk2 was highly expressed in the brain and eyes of adult zebrafish. To study the functions of gluk2, gene knockout was carried out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. According to RNA-seq analysis, we selected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that had significant differences in at least three tissues of the liver, gill, intestine, skin, brain, and eyes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that cry1ba, cry2, per1b, per2, hsp70.1, hsp70.2, hsp70l, hsp90aa1.1, hsp90aa1.2, hspb1, trpv1, slc27a1b, park2, ucp3, and METRNL were significantly enriched in the ‘Response to temperature stimulus’ pathway. Through behavioral phenotyping assay, the gluk2−/− larval mutant displayed obvious deficiency in cold stress. Furthermore, TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling) staining proved that the gill apoptosis of gluk2−/− mutant was increased approximately 60 times compared with the wild-type after gradient cooling to 8 °C for 15 h. Overall, our data suggested that gluk2 was necessary for cold tolerance in zebrafish.
Interspecific Hybridization of Transgenic Brassica napus and Brassica rapa—An Overview
Authors: Sohn Soo-In , Thamilarasan Senthil Kumar , Pandian Subramani , Oh Young-Ju , Ryu Tae-Hun , Lee Gang-Seob , Shin Eun-Kyoung
Published: August 2022

In nature, interspecific hybridization occurs frequently and can contribute to the production of new species or the introgression of beneficial adaptive features between species. It has great potential in agricultural systems to boost the process of targeted crop improvement. In the advent of genetically modified (GM) crops, it has a disadvantage that it involves the transgene escaping to unintended plants, which could result in non-specific weedy crops. Several crop species in the Brassica genus have close kinship: canola (Brassica napus) is an ancestral hybrid of B. rapa and B. oleracea and mustard species such as B. juncea, B. carinata, and B. nigra share common genomes. Hence, intraspecific hybridization among the Brassica species is most common, especially between B. napus and B. rapa. In general, interspecific hybrids cause numerous genetic and phenotypic changes in the parental lines. Consequently, their fitness and reproductive ability are also highly varied. In this review, we discuss the interspecific hybridization and reciprocal hybridization studies of B. napus and B. rapa and their potential in the controlled environment. Further, we address the fate of transgenes (herbicide resistance) and their ability to transfer to their progenies or generations. This could help us to understand the environmental influence of interspecific hybrids and how to effectively manage their transgene escape in the future.
Comparative Transcriptomics and Methylomics Reveal Adaptive Responses of Digestive and Metabolic Genes to Dietary Shift in Giant and Red Pandas
Authors: Li Lu , Shen Fujun , Jie Xiaodie , Zhang Liang , Yan Guoqiang , Wu Honglin , Huang Yan , Hou Rong , Yue Bisong , Zhang Xiuyue
Published: August 2022

Both the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and red panda (Ailurus fulgens) belong to the order Carnivora, but have changed their dietary habits to eating bamboo exclusively. The convergent evolution characteristics of their morphology, genome and gut flora have been found in the two pandas. However, the research on the convergent adaptation of their digestion and metabolism to the bamboo diet, mediated by the dietary shift of the two pandas at the gene-expression and epigenetic regulation levels, is still lacking. We therefore used RNA sequencing among five species (two pandas and three non-herbivore mammals) and bisulfite sequencing among three species (two pandas and a carnivore ferret) to sequence key digestion and metabolism tissues (stomach and small intestine). Our results provide evidence that the convergent differentially expressed genes (related to carbohydrate utilization, bile secretion, Lys and Arg metabolism, vitamin B12 utilization and cyanide detoxification) of the two pandas are adaptive responses to the bamboo diet containing low lipids, low Lys and Arg, low vitamin B12 and high cyanide. We also profiled the genome-wide methylome maps of giant panda, red panda and ferret, and the results indicated that the promoter methylation of the two pandas may regulate digestive and metabolic genes to adapt to sudden environmental changes, and then, transmit genetic information to future generations to evolve into bamboo eaters. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the dietary shift and the adaptation to a strict bamboo diet in both pandas using comparative transcriptomics and methylomics.
Home-Dwelling Older Adults’ Day-to-Day Community Interactions: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Perruchoud Elodie , von Gunten Armin , Ferreira Tiago , Queirós Alcina Matos , Verloo Henk
Published: August 2022

Background: Many home-dwelling older adults present abnormal behaviours related to dementia or to non-dementia cognitive impairment (e.g., agitation, anxiety, apathy, etc.). Because many older adults live at home alone or are able to hide any signs of abnormal behaviours from others, the non-healthcare workers who interact with older adults on a daily basis are key actors in detecting those behaviours and orienting older adults towards appropriate support services. To the best of our knowledge, no studies to date have explored the daily interactions experienced between older adults and the various non-healthcare workers whom they regularly encounter in the community. This work aimed to identify the non-healthcare workers who are regularly in direct contact with older adults during their day-to-day activities and then develop specific training for these workers on the subject of abnormal behaviours among the elderly. Methods: This qualitative and ethnographic study asked 21 home-dwelling older adults aged 65 years old or more to answer open-ended questions. Sixteen had no self-reported cognitive impairments, and five had a probable or diagnosed slight cognitive impairment or mild-to-moderate dementia. A thematic analysis of the data was carried out. Results: The non-healthcare workers who spent the most time with older adults with and without reported cognitive impairments were those working in cafés or tea rooms and leisure or activity centres. Conclusions: In view of the significant amounts of contact between home-dwelling older adults and non-healthcare workers, it seems necessary and sensible to increase non-healthcare workers’ knowledge about abnormal behaviours, especially by offering them training. The proactive detection and identification of older adults’ abnormal behaviours by non-healthcare workers will ensure earlier care and reduce avoidable hospitalisations, institutionalisations and costs linked to geriatric healthcare.
In Search of Antifungals from the Plant World: The Potential of Saponins and Brassica Species against Verticillium dahliae Kleb.
Authors: Morcia Caterina , Piazza Isabella , Ghizzoni Roberta , Delbono Stefano , Felici Barbara , Baima Simona , Scossa Federico , Biazzi Elisa , Tava Aldo , Terzi Valeria , Finocchiaro Franca
Published: August 2022

Control methods alternative to synthetic pesticides are among the priorities for both organic and conventional farming systems. Plants are potential sources of compounds with antimicrobial properties. In this study, the antifungal potentialities of saponins derived from Medicago species and oat grains and of brassica sprouts have been explored for the control of Verticillium dahliae, a widely distributed fungal pathogen that causes vascular wilt disease on over 200 plant species. All the tested plant extracts showed antifungal properties. Such compounds, able to reduce mycelium growth and conidia formation, deserve deeper in vivo evaluation, even in combination with a delivery system.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Eggplant DIR Gene Family in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Zhang Kaijing , Xing Wujun , Sheng Suao , Yang Dekun , Zhen Fengxian , Jiang Haikun , Yan Congsheng , Jia Li
Published: August 2022

Dirigent proteins (DIR) play important roles in the biosynthesis of lignins and lignans, defensive responses, secondary metabolism, and disease resistance in plants. The DIR gene family has been identified and studied in many plants. However, the identification of DIR gene family in eggplant has not been conducted yet. Therefore, in this study, based on the available genome information of eggplant, the DIR family genes in eggplant were identified with bioinformatics methods. The expression pattern analyses of eggplant DIR family genes in different organs and stresses were also conducted to understand their biological functions. The results showed that a total of 24 DIR genes were identified in the eggplant, which were divided into three subfamilies (DIR-a, DIR-b/d, and DIR-e). Synteny analysis of DIR genes among eggplant, Arabidopsis, and rice showed that 15 eggplant DIR genes were colinear with 18 Arabidopsis DIR genes, and 16 eggplant DIR genes were colinear with 15 rice DIR genes. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that 19 pairs of orthologous genes were identified between eggplant and pepper. The cis-acting elements analysis implied that the eggplant DIR genes contained a lot of cis-elements associated with stress and hormone response. The organ-specific expression analysis of eggplant DIR family genes revealed that only the SmDIR3 gene was highly expressed in all the 19 organs of eggplant. Some SmDIR genes, including SmDIR7, SmDIR8, SmDIR11, SmDIR14, SmDIR18, SmDIR19, SmDIR20, and SmDIR23, were not or were lowly expressed in the eggplant organs, while the other eggplant DIR family genes showed an organ-specific expression pattern. Furthermore, 19 of 24 SmDIR genes were differentially expressed in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. 5 SmDIR genes, including SmDIR3, SmDIR5, SmDIR6, SmDIR12, and SmDIR22, were differentially expressed under multiple types of abiotic and biotic stresses. Especially notable, the SmDIR22 gene was differentially expressed under three types of abiotic stresses and two types of biotic stresses, which indicated that the SmDIR22 gene plays an important role in the response to abiotic and biotic stresses. These results provide valuable evidence for a better understanding of the biological role of DIR genes in eggplant.
Initially High Correlation between Air Pollution and COVID-19 Mortality Declined to Zero as the Pandemic Progressed: There Is No Evidence for a Causal Link between Air Pollution and COVID-19 Vulnerability
Authors: Taylor Brandon Michael , Ash Michael , King Lawrence Peter
Published: August 2022

Wu et al. found a strong positive association between cumulative daily county-level COVID-19 mortality and long-term average PM2.5 concentrations for data up until September 2020. We replicated the results of Wu et al. and extended the analysis up until May 2022. The association between PM2.5 concentration and cumulative COVID-19 mortality fell sharply after September 2020. Using the data available from Wu et al.’s “updated_data” branch up until May 2022, we found that the effect of a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with only a +0.603% mortality difference. The 95% CI of this difference was between −0.560% and +1.78%, narrow bounds that include zero, with the upper bound far below the Wu et al. estimate. Short-term trends in the initial spread of COVID-19, not a long-term epidemiologic association, caused an early correlation between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality.
Mortality of Suicide and Cerebro-Cardiovascular Diseases by Occupation in Korea, 1997–2020
Authors: Jang Jungwon , Kim Inah
Published: August 2022

Although studies on occupational mortality have been conducted in Korea, the results for occupations with high mortality around 2010 are inconsistent. This study aimed to examine occupational mortality from overwork-related suicide and cerebro-cardiovascular diseases (CCVD) from 1997 to 2020. We used microdata of the Causes of Death Statistics (CDS) and Economically Active Population Survey (EAPS) to obtain indirect standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and standardized proportional mortality ratio (PMR) of suicide (X60–X84) and CCVD deaths (I20–I25 and I60–I69) by gender and eight occupational categories. The trend of SMR of suicide and CCVD by occupation was similar within individual genders. The SMR of managers (MNG) was the highest for men and women in 2012–2017 and 2008–2020, respectively, whereas the SMR of professionals and related workers (PRF) was consistently low. Despite the similar socioeconomic status of MNG and PRF, we suggest that their mortality should be analyzed separately in Korea. SMR of suicide and CCVD in female MNG were consistently highest, although the PMR was low. Female MNG may have been more directly affected by the economic crisis. There is a need for work-related stress management, early intervention, and prevention policies in occupations vulnerable to mortality.
Stakeholder Analysis of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Internet Recycling Industry
Authors: Liu Tingting , Zhang Qian , Zheng Zichen , Wu Shangyun , Weng Zhixiong
Published: August 2022

With the acceleration of the digitization process and the popularization of the internet, the recycling of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a potential and emerging recycling method. Stakeholders in the WEEE internet recycling industry have different roles which need to be clarified. The stakeholder structure and relationships, and stakeholder characteristics, lie at the core of recycling system governance. Therefore, it is necessary to identify stakeholders in the existing WEEE Internet recycling industry. This study selected 10 important stakeholders and classified them into key, potential, and marginal stakeholders using the Mitchell scale while analyzing their characteristics and interactions. The results showed that internet recycling companies, government, residents, and traditional recyclers are key stakeholders that are important for promoting the development of the industry. Based on the above analysis, policy advice is proposed to provide directions for the improvement of the WEEE industry.
Chemical and Microbial Leaching of Valuable Metals from PCBs and Tantalum Capacitors of Spent Mobile Phones
Authors: Sikander Asma , Kelly Steven , Kuchta Kerstin , Sievers Anika , Willner Thomas , Hursthouse Andrew S.
Published: August 2022

We compared chemical and microbial leaching for multi-metal extraction from printed circuit boards (PCBs) and tantalum capacitor scrap. A mixed consortium of acidophiles and heterotrophic fungal strains were used in the experiments and compared to chemical leaching using specific acids (sulfuric, citric and oxalic acids). Under optimum conditions, 100% extraction efficiency of Cu, and nearly 85% of Zn, Fe, Al and Ni were achieved from PCB and tantalum capacitor scrap samples using sulfuric acid. The mixed consortium of acidophiles successfully mobilized, Ni and Cu (99% and 96%, respectively) while Fe, Zn, Al and Mn reached an extraction yield of 89, 77, 70 and 43%, respectively, from the PCB samples. For the tantalum capacitor samples, acidophiles mobilized 92% Cu, 88% Ni, 78% Fe, 77% Al, 70% Zn and 57% Mn. Metal mobilization from PCBs and tantalum capacitor scrap by A. niger filtrate showed efficient solubilization of Cu, Fe, Al, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn at an efficiency of 52, 29, 75, 5, 61, 21 and 35% from PCB samples and 61, 25, 69, 23, 68, 15 and 45% from tantalum capacitor samples, respectively. Microbial leaching proved viable as a method to extract base metals but was less specific for tantalum and precious metals in electronic waste. The implications of these results for further processing of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) are considered in potential hybrid treatment strategies.
Walking Promotion in Pregnancy and Its Effects on Insomnia: Results of Walking_Preg Project (WPP) Clinical Trial
Authors: Benito-Villena Rebeca , Guerrero-Martínez Ingrid , Naveiro-Fuentes Mariña , Cano-Ibánez Naomi , Femia-Marzo Pedro , Gallo-Vallejo José Luis , Mozas-Moreno Juan , Amezcua-Prieto Carmen
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Insomnia is a frequent condition during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess if a walking promotion program from the 12th Gestational Week (GW) of pregnancy helps to prevent insomnia and improve the quality of sleep at third trimester. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized, and controlled trial was conducted with 270 pregnant women divided into 3 groups in parallel: maximum intervention group, I1 (pedometer and goal of 10,000 steps/day), minimum intervention group, I2 (pedometer without a goal), and control group (no intervention). All groups received recommendations about physical activity in pregnancy. A structured interview was performed at 13th, 20th, and 32nd GW, collecting pedometer mean steps/day, Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Pittsburgh questionnaire (PSQI). Lineal regression models were conducted to determine the association between mean steps/day at 31st GW and AIS or PSQI score. Results: At 19th GW, groups I1 and I2 reached a mean of 6267 steps/day (SD = 3854) and 5835 steps/day (SD = 2741), respectively (p > 0.05). At 31st GW mean steps/day was lower for I2 (p < 0.001). Insomnia and poor sleep quality prevalence increased through pregnancy, but no differences between groups, within trimesters, were found (p > 0.05). Lineal regression showed no association between the average steps/day at third trimester of pregnancy and AIS and PSQI scores. Conclusions: Our walking promotion program based on pedometers did not help to prevent insomnia in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Use of Health Services and Support Resources by Immediate Family Members Bereaved by Suicide: A Scoping Review
Authors: Kaspersen Silje L. , Kalseth Jorid , Stene-Larsen Kim , Reneflot Anne
Published: August 2022

The knowledge on health service use, systematic follow-up, and support for families bereaved by suicide remains scarce. This scoping review includes studies from 2010 to March 2022 that investigate the follow-up and support offered by health services, peer support services, and other resources available (e.g., internet-based resources) for families bereaved by suicide. We followed the scoping review framework provided by the Johanna Briggs Institute and performed a double-blinded screening process using Covidence. Data were extracted by four researchers and a thematic analysis was performed to summarize the results. The PRISMA Extension for Scoping reviews was used for reporting results. Of 2385 studies screened by title, 190 by abstract, and 93 by full-text reading, we included 63 original articles of which 24, 29 and 10 were quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies, respectively. The review shows that we have some knowledge about the need for, and experiences with, health services and support resources for immediate family members bereaved by suicide, but a lack of knowledge about their help-seeking behaviour, patient pathways, systematic follow-up, coordination between services, and long-term outcomes. We need more longitudinal observational studies of health service use and patient trajectories for people bereaved by suicide.
Study on the Spatial Interaction between Urban Economic and Ecological Environment—A Case Study of Wuhan City
Authors: Geng Liang , Zhao Xinyue , An Yu , Peng Lingtong , Ye Dan
Published: August 2022

In order to study the interactive relationship between urban economic and ecological environment, taking Wuhan as an example, Landsat and MODIS remote sensing satellite data and social and economic data were fused with multisource data, and multidimensional indicators were selected to construct the comprehensive evaluation index system of urban economic and ecological environment. The weights were determined by combining subjective and objective methods. Then, the decoupling elasticity coefficient method and spatial autocorrelation model were used to evaluate the dynamic relationship and spatial relationship between economic development and ecological environment in Wuhan from 2014 to 2020. The results showed that there was an interaction between the urban economic and the ecological environment in Wuhan. The ecological level index had a spatial effect, the adjustment of industrial structure had a positive effect on the improvement of the ecological level, and the improvement of the ecological level was also helpful to promote economic development. The typical districts of Huangpi District, Xinzhou District, Jiangxia District, Hannan District, Caidian District, and Hongshan District had superior location and ecological advantages, as well as high development potential. Lastly, on the basis of the empirical analysis results, policy suggestions are made from four aspects: regional differentiated construction, green development, energy consumption, and wetland construction.
Informing State-Wide Coalition Efforts to Implement and Integrate Nutrition Best Practices in Early Care and Education: Focus Group Insights from Child Care Providers
Authors: Koester Brenda D. , Sloane Stephanie , Chusid Sarah , Simon Janna
Published: August 2022

A healthy diet in early childhood is an important contributor to ensuring lifelong health and in reducing risk for obesity. The child care environment is critical to supporting nutrition as a majority of young children less than 5 years of age are enrolled in out-of-home care. In order to better understand barriers to implementing and integrating nutrition best practices, we conduced focus groups with child care providers (n = 25) in Illinois. Providers from low-income communities, rural communities, and communities of color were prioritized. Focus group participants reported several challenges including the high cost of nutritious food, picky eating, and their perception that parents did not set good examples at home. Many providers identified the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as a critical resource in helping them implement best practices. Providers discussed needing and wanting more training, more money for food, and more parental support. These results indicate support for additional resources and sustained training and technical assistance to address perceived challenges. The evidence of the importance of CACFP in helping providers engage in nutrition best practices indicates support for expansion and strengthening of the program.
Factors Related to Suicidal Ideation and Prediction of High-Risk Groups among Youngest-Old Adults in South Korea
Authors: Kim Eungyung , Yi Jee-Seon
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: The suicide of older adults shows different factors between the youngest-old adults and the old-old adults. This study aimed to identify factors predicting suicidal ideation among youngest-old adults (ages 65 to 74 years) and predict high-risk groups’ characteristics. (2) Methods: The subjects of this study were 970 youngest-old adults who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VIII Year 1, 2019). Logistic regression analysis identified factors related to suicidal ideation, and decision tree analysis identified combined characteristics among high-risk groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0. (3) Results: Suicidal ideation became more common among those with relatively lower income levels (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.04–2.12), those whom had experienced depression (OR = 9.28, 95% CI = 4.57–18.84), those with relatively higher stress levels (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.11–5.28), and those reporting a relatively worse perceived health (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.23–3.11). Complex characteristics that combined depression, low personal income level, and low perceived health predicted a high risk of suicidal ideation (64.6%, p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The findings indicate that this high-risk group should be prioritized when developing suicide prevention strategies.
SANE (Easy Gait Analysis System): Towards an AI-Assisted Automatic Gait-Analysis
Authors: Sipari Dario , Chaparro-Rico Betsy D. M. , Cafolla Daniele
Published: August 2022

The gait cycle of humans may be influenced by a range of variables, including neurological, orthopedic, and pathological conditions. Thus, gait analysis has a broad variety of applications, including the diagnosis of neurological disorders, the study of disease development, the assessment of the efficacy of a treatment, postural correction, and the evaluation and enhancement of sport performances. While the introduction of new technologies has resulted in substantial advancements, these systems continue to struggle to achieve a right balance between cost, analytical accuracy, speed, and convenience. The target is to provide low-cost support to those with motor impairments in order to improve their quality of life. The article provides a novel automated approach for motion characterization that makes use of artificial intelligence to perform real-time analysis, complete automation, and non-invasive, markerless analysis. This automated procedure enables rapid diagnosis and prevents human mistakes. The gait metrics obtained by the two motion tracking systems were compared to show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
Food Security as Ethics and Social Responsibility: An Application of the Food Abundance Index in an Urban Setting
Authors: Murrell Audrey J. , Jones Ray , Rose Sam , Firestine Alex , Bute Joe
Published: August 2022

High levels of food insecurity signal the presence of disparities and inequities in local food access that have been shown to negatively impact the health and well-being of individuals and communities. Some argue that the lack of healthy, affordable and culturally relevant food within a community represents a troubling social and ethical concern for any society. The current research conducts an assessment of a specific community utilizing the framework outlined by the Food Abundance Index (FAI) scorecard. Combined with contemporary regional data on the demographics of the area, data revealed extremely low scores for both access and density dimensions. Our findings can help business, community and policymakers better understand and target evidence-based solutions to address the issue of food insecurity within this region.
The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on PHQ Depression Screening Scores for High School Athletes
Authors: Adams Devin P. , Holt Jasmine R. , Martin Jenna A. , Houpy Danielle M. , Hollenbach Kathryn A.
Published: August 2022

Adolescent behavioral health was in crisis before COVID-19. The shutdown and reopening of in-person learning and extracurricular activities may have worsened this crisis. We examined high school athletes’ depression before and during the pandemic. Data were collected as part of a pilot program incorporating Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) screenings during high school sports physicals before the COVID-19 lockdown and three timepoints after. Statistical comparisons were made using logistic regression. A total of 927 individual scores were analyzed: 385 from spring 2020; 145 from fall 2020; 163 from fall 2021; and 234 from spring 2022. Fall 2020 students were 3.7 times more likely to have elevated PHQ-2 scores than spring 2020 students (95% CI = 1.8, 7.6). Fall 2021 and spring 2022 scores did not differ significantly from pre-pandemic, although trends of elevated scores persisted (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 0.7, 3.5, and OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 0.6, 2.4, respectively). A significant difference in PHQ-9 depression severity classification was detected over time (p < 0.01). Elevated PHQ scores were found after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After the initial peak in fall 2020, scores decreased but did not reach pre-pandemic levels.