bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilization of Genetic Resources, Genetic Diversity and Genetic Variability for Selecting New Restorer Lines of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Awad-Allah Mamdouh M. A. , Shafie Wafaa W. M. , Alsubeie Moodi Saham , Alatawi Aishah , Safhi Fatmah Ahmed , ALshamrani Salha Mesfer , Albalawi Doha A. , Al-Amrah Hadba , Alshehri Dikhnah , Alshegaihi Rana M. , Basahi Mohammed A. , Masrahi Abdurrahman S.
Published: November 2022

Exploration of and understanding diversity and variability in genotypes of germplasm determines the success of rice improvement programs. One of the most important determinants of the success of breeding programs is genetic diversity and inheritance of traits. Genetic variability analysis helps breeders to determine the appropriate selection method and standards to be used to improve the preferred trait. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic components, heritability and to obtain information about genetic diversity using cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Twenty rice genotypes with three replicates in a randomized complete block design were analyzed at the Experimental Farm at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, during the period from 2017 to 2020. The results of the analysis of variance showed that highly significant variations were recorded between the studied genotypes for all traits. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV%) and phenotypic (PCV%) coefficient of variation were moderate for plant height, panicles/plant, panicle weight, spikelets/panicle, filled grains/panicle, grain yield/plant and amylose content percentage for the first-year, second-year and combined data. This indicates the existence of beneficial genetic variability that can be exploited to improve these traits. The broad-sense estimates of heritability were high and recorded values higher than 60% for all the studied traits for the two-year and combined data, except for hulling percentage. This indicates that the selection of traits that have high heritability and are less affected by the environment leads to an acceleration of the improvement of these traits. The results from the cluster analysis and principal component analysis revealed a high level of genotypic variation among the studied genotypes and genetic diversity between them. One of the most important outcomes of this study is the successful utilization of genetic resources (germplasm) from ancient varieties and lines of rice in selecting and identifying 17 new restoration lines of rice, which have various improvement purposes in rice and hybrid rice breeding programs.
Bioinformatics Prediction and Machine Learning on Gene Expression Data Identifies Novel Gene Candidates in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Kori Medi , Gov Esra
Published: November 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the five most common cancers in the world and unfortunately has a high mortality rate. To date, the pathogenesis and disease genes of GC are unclear, so the need for new diagnostic and prognostic strategies for GC is undeniable. Despite particular findings in this regard, a holistic approach encompassing molecular data from different biological levels for GC has been lacking. To translate Big Data into system-level biomarkers, in this study, we integrated three different GC gene expression data with three different biological networks for the first time and captured biologically significant (i.e., reporter) transcripts, hub proteins, transcription factors, and receptor molecules of GC. We analyzed the revealed biomolecules with independent RNA-seq data for their diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. While this holistic approach uncovered biomolecules already associated with GC, it also revealed novel system biomarker candidates for GC. Classification performances of novel candidate biomarkers with machine learning approaches were investigated. With this study, AES, CEBPZ, GRK6, HPGDS, SKIL, and SP3 were identified for the first time as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker candidates for GC. Consequently, we have provided valuable data for further experimental and clinical efforts that may be useful for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of GC.
The Health Belief Model Modifying Factors Associated with Missed Clinic Appointments among Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease in the Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhazmi Sami A. , Maashi Afnan Q. , Shabaan Shahad K. , Majrashi Aisha A. , Thakir Mawaeed A. , Almetahr Safa M. , Qadri Alanoud M. , Hakami Abdulaziz A. , Abdelwahab Siddig I. , Alhazmi Abdulaziz H.
Published: November 2022

In treating chronic illnesses, such as sickle cell disease (SCD), outpatient care is essential; poor adherence in attending clinic appointments can lead to serious outcomes. SCD is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia, and patients with SCD are advised to follow up with their treating physician in order to control this disease manifestation and to better forecast its complications. Studies evaluating missed appointments among patients with SCD are rare. Therefore, the current study aimed to use the health belief model’s modifying factors in order to evaluate the variables associated with poor adherence in attending appointments. A total of 381 participants with SCD from various regions in the Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were included. The survey instrument included socioeconomic determinants, factors associated with poor adherence in attending outpatient appointments, and solutions under the conceptual framework of the health belief model. A descriptive analysis was conducted and the factors that impacted adherence in attending the appointments were evaluated. In the current sample, respondents with SCD from 21 to 30 years represented 41%, which was followed by participants who were 11 to 20 years at 21.5%. In addition, about 60% of the participants were women. Further, approximately 62% of the patients admitted were missing one or more outpatient appointments in the previous year, which was significantly related to various factors, such as socioeconomic characteristics and patient residence. Forgetting the appointment was the main reason for skipping outpatient appointments for patients with SCD; as such, reminders appear to be a good solution for most participants. Our findings indicated that modifying components of the health belief model, including age, level of education, income, patients’ residence, and lacking cues to action (such as reminders) are important in explaining the reason for poor adherence in attending appointments. Thus, efforts are needed to address these factors and to ensure that SCD patients uphold their appointments. Future studies should examine the clinical, psychological, and epidemiological aspects that are linked with missed consultations.
Comparative Analysis of Edentulism in a Sample of Mexican Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Islas-Zarazúa Rosalina , Mora-Acosta Mariana , Navarrete-Hernández José de Jesús , Reynoso-Vázquez Josefina , Villalobos-Rodelo Juan José , Rojas-Ortega Laura , Sosa-Velazco Taurino Amilcar , Márquez-Corona María de Lourdes , Medina-Solís Carlo Eduardo , Maupomé Gerardo
Published: November 2022

The objective of the present study was to compare the prevalence of edentulism in Mexican adults with and without a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) when they are seeking dental care. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1921 medical records of Mexican adults 40 years of age and older who sought dental care at clinics of a public university in Mexico. The dependent variable was edentulism, clinically determined through an oral examination. The main independent variable was the self-report of previous T2DM diagnosis made by a physician. Sociodemographic, socioeconomic and behavioral covariates were included in a multivariate binary logistic regression model. Overall edentulism prevalence was 8.4% (95% CI = 7.1–9.6). The prevalence of T2DM was 14.3% (n = 274). The prevalence of edentulism among individuals with T2DM was 13.1%, but only 7.6% among individuals without T2DM. In the multivariate binary logistic regression model, a previous T2DM diagnosis increased the probability of being edentulous 1.61 times (95% CI = 1.03–2.50). For each year a person’s age increased, the likelihood of being edentulous increased by 12% (95% CI = 10–14%). In summary, a higher prevalence of edentulism was present in Mexican adults with T2DM and in those of older age. This information may be used by dental care providers and health policymakers to improve approaches to preventive care, as well as to characterize and anticipate care needs more accurately for the adult and older adult populations.
Experience of Indigenous Peoples’ Access to Long-Term Care Services in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study among Bunun Tribes
Authors: Tien Hsiu-Chuan , Hou Wen-Li , Yang Yung-Mei
Published: November 2022

Indigenous communities usually have poorer access to long-term care services than non-indigenous communities because of their remote locations and unique cultural backgrounds. However, there was little exploration into the experience of indigenous people’s access to the official long-term care services in Taiwan—the gap this study aimed to fill. A qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was used to obtain data from a purposive sample. Fourteen participants who were disabled and lived among the indigenous communities of the Bunun tribes in central Taiwan were interviewed individually. The data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman’s qualitative content analysis. The theme—“helpful but still difficult and unfit”—and three categories with eight subcategories emerged. While official long-term care services provided by the government can benefit people with disabilities in indigenous tribes, their use of such services faces a number of obstacles, which points to the need for considering culturally appropriate care. To protect the rights and interests of indigenous tribal communities, long-term care policies and practical planning must be adopted, cultural differences at play must be respected and recognized, and the necessary support must be offered to eliminate inequalities in healthcare.
Special Issue: “Biological Control of Pre- and Postharvest Fungal Diseases”
Authors: Di Francesco Alessandra , Romanazzi Gianfranco , Torres Rosario
Published: November 2022

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development planned 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure a better present and future for our planet and the people that are living on it [...]
In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of BAP Concentration and Pre-Cooling Treatments on Morphological, Physiological, and Biochemical Traits of Different Olive (Olea euorpea L.) Cultivars
Authors: Khatoon Sadia , Liu Wencong , Ding Chuan-bo , Liu Xinglong , Zheng Yinan , Zhang Yue , Chen Xueyan , Rauf Muhammad , Alghabari Fahad , Shah Zahid Hussain
Published: November 2022

In vitro propagation of olive (Olea euorpea L.) always remained a challenging task due to its woody nature and oxidation of culture. The current study intended to optimize shoot induction and proliferation protocol for different cultivars (“Leccino”, “Gemlik”, “Moraiolo” and “Arbosana”) of olive-on-olive media (OM) provided with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mgL−1) of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) by pre-exposing their explants (nodal segments) with different regimes (0, 24, and 48 h) of cooling. The impacts of treatments were evaluated on morphological (shoot induction percentage, primary shoot length, number of leaves shoot−1, and number of shoots per explant−1), physiological (total chlorophyll, carotenoids, CO2 assimilation, and proline), biochemical (primary and secondary metabolites) attributes of cultivars after 50 to 60 days of culture. Data recorded were subjected to statistical analysis. All traits depicted significant increases in all genotypes with increasing pre-cooling treatments and increasing supplementations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). This increase was the highest for the interaction of 48 h pre-cooling and 2.5 mgL−1 BAP concentration. Moreover, correlation analysis of all traits revealed significant paired association among them in a positive direction, while principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the extent of association varied with types of treatments and the nature of genotypes. Among cultivars, Arbosana depicted more dramatic changes in morphological traits, physiological attributes, and biochemical contents due to varying interactions of pre-cooling and BAP treatments as compared to Moraiolo, Gemlik, and Leccino with in vitro systems.
Low-Dimensional Compounds Containing Bioactive Ligands. Part XIX: Crystal Structures and Biological Properties of Copper Complexes with Halogen and Nitro Derivatives of 8-Hydroxyquinoline
Authors: Kepeňová Martina , Kello Martin , Smolková Romana , Goga Michal , Frenák Richard , Tkáčiková Ľudmila , Litecká Miroslava , Šubrt Jan , Potočňák Ivan
Published: November 2022

Six new copper(II) complexes were prepared: [Cu(ClBrQ)2] (1a, 1b), [Cu(ClBrQ)2]·1/2 diox (2) (diox = 1,4-dioxane), [Cu(BrQ)2] (3), [Cu(dNQ)2] (4), [Cu(dNQ)2(DMF)2] (5) and [Cu(ClNQ)2] (6), where HClBrQ is 5-chloro-7-bromo-8-hydroxyquinoline, HBrQ is 7-bromo-8-hydroxyquinoline, HClNQ is 5-chloro-7-nitro-8-hydroxyquinoline and HdNQ is 5,7-dinitro-8-hydroxyquinoline. Prepared compounds were characterised by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and by X-ray structural analysis. Structural analysis revealed that all complexes are molecular. Square planar coordination of copper atoms in [Cu(XQ)2] (XQ = ClBrQ (1a, 1b), BrQ (3) and ClNQ (6)) and tetragonal bipyramidal coordination in [Cu(dNQ)2(DMF)2] (5) complexes were observed. In these four complexes, bidentate chelate coordination of XQ ligands via oxygen and nitrogen atoms was found. Hydrogen bonds stabilizing the structure were observed in [Cu(dNQ)2(DMF)2] (5) and [Cu(ClNQ)2] (6), no other nonbonding interactions were noticed in all five structures. The stability of the complexes in DMSO and DMSO/water was evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Cytotoxic activity of the complexes and ligands was tested against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HCT116, CaCo2, HeLa, A549 and Jurkat cancer cell lines. The selectivity of the complexes was verified on a noncancerous Cos-7 cell line. Antiproliferative activity of the prepared complexes was very low in comparison with cisplatin, except complex 3; however, its activity was not selective and was similar to the activity of its ligand HBrQ. Antibacterial potential was observed only with ligand HClNQ. Radical scavenging experiments revealed relatively high antioxidant activity of complex 3 against ABTS radical.
Modern Trends in Bio-Organometallic Ferrocene Chemistry
Authors: Snegur Lubov V.
Published: November 2022

Organometallic sandwich compounds, especially ferrocenes, possess a wide variety of pharmacological activities and therefore are attracting more and more attention from chemists, biologists, biochemists, etc. Excellent reviews concerning biological aspects and design of ferrocene-modified compounds appear regularly in scientific journals. This brief overview highlights recent achievements in the field of bio-organometallic ferrocene chemistry from 2017 to 2022. During this period, new ferrocene-modified analogues of various bio-structures were synthesized, namely, betulin, artemisinin, steroids, and alkaloids. In addition, studies of the biological potential of ferrocenes have been expanded. Since ferrocene is 70 years old this year, a brief historical background is also given. It seemed to me useful to sketch the ‘ferrocene picture’ in broad strokes.
Spores of Trichoderma Strains over P. vulgaris Beans: Direct Effect on Insect Attacks and Indirect Effect on Agronomic Parameters
Authors: Rodríguez-González Álvaro , Carro-Huerga Guzmán , Guerra Marcos , Mayo-Prieto Sara , Porteous-Álvarez Alejandra Juana , Lorenzana Alicia , Campelo María Piedad , Fernández-Marcos Alexia , Casquero Pedro Antonio , Gutiérrez Santiago
Published: November 2022

Acanthoscelides obtectus is an insect pest that attacks wild and cultivated common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L). Four Trichoderma strains, the T. arundinaceum IBT 40837 wild-type strain (=Ta37), a producer of trichothecene harzianum A (HA), two transformants of T. arundinaceum strain, Ta37-17.139 (=Δtri17) and Ta37-23.74 (=Δtri23), and the T. brevicompactum IBT 40841 wild-type strain (=Tb41), which produces the trichothecene trichodermin, were assessed to establish their direct effect on insect attacks and their indirect effect on the plants grown from the beans treated with those fungal strains and exposed to insect attacks. Treatments of bean seeds with different Trichoderma strains led to different survival rates in the insects, and the Tb41 strain caused the lowest survival rate of all. An 86.10% of the insect cadavers (in contact with Δtri23) showed growth of this strain. This was the treatment that attracted the greatest number of insects. The daily emergence was reduced in beans treated with the Ta37, Tb41, and Δtri17 strains. The undamaged beans treated with Ta37 and Δtri23 showed a high capacity of germination (80.00% and 75.00%, respectively), whereas the Δtri17 and Tb41 treatments increased the capacity of germination in the damaged beans (66.67%). The undamaged beans treated with Δtri23 had the greatest dry weights for the aerial part (4.22 g) and root system in the plants (0.62 g). More studies on the mechanisms of insect control, plant growth promotion, and trichodermol and trichodermin production by Δtri23 and Tb41, respectively, should be explored in order to commercialize these fungal species on a large scale.
High Levels of Admixture in Anopheles gambiae Populations from Côte d’Ivoire Revealed by Multilocus Genotyping
Authors: Tondossama Naminata , Coulibaly Zanakoungo I. , Traoré Issouf , Ako Bérenger A. , Zoh Danielle D. , Virgillito Chiara , Guindo-Coulibaly Négnorogo , Serini Paola , Assouho Fabrice K. , Dia Ibrahima , Touré Andre O. , Adja Maurice A. , Caputo Beniamino , della Torre Alessandra , Pichler Verena
Published: November 2022

Anopheles coluzzii and An. gambiae—the two most recently radiated species of the An. gambiae complex and the major Afrotropical malaria vector species—are identified by markers in the X-centromeric IGS rDNA region. Putative IGS-hybrids are rarely found in the field, except in restricted areas where genomic studies have led to the hypothesis that the observed IGS-patterns are due to cryptic taxa rather than to hybridization between the two species. We investigated the genome-wide levels of admixture in two villages in Côte d’Ivoire where high levels of IGS-hybrids have been detected, confirming unparalleled high frequencies in the coastal village. Genotyping of 24 Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) along the three chromosomes produced discordant results between the IGS-marker and the multilocus genotype obtained for AIMs across the whole genome (29%) as well as AIMs on chromosome-X (considered to be fundamental for species reproductive isolation) only (21%). Results highlight a complicated pattern of admixture that deserves deeper genomic analyses to understand better possible underlying causes (from extensive processes of hybridization to the existence of different cryptic taxa), and stress the need of developing advanced diagnostics for An. coluzzii, An. gambiae and putative new taxa, instrumental for assessing taxon-specific epidemiological characters.
An Unusual Cause of Right Heart Dysfunction and High Output Heart Failure in a Young Woman
Authors: Ariza Ordoñez Nicolás , Pino Marín Antonia , Bonilla Crespo Juan Sebastián , Navarro Navajas Alberto , Oliver Gabriel Antonio , Medina Hector M. , Forero Julián F.
Published: November 2022

A 35-year-old female presented to our emergency department with clinical signs of acute heart failure. Clinical workup identified severe right heart (RH) dilation and dysfunction with a crossing membrane structure in the right atrium. Right heart catheterization confirmed high output heart failure (HOHF), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and left-to-right blood shunting followed by the documentation of multiple liver and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) diagnosis was made according to clinical criteria and was established as the cause of HOHF because of chronic volume overload from systemic to pulmonary shunts. With this illustrative case, we aim to discuss the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations of HHT and the unusual phenotype of HOHF secondary to HHT. This case also highlights the broad diagnosis of atrial echocardiographic abnormalities and cardiac structural distortion secondary to high output that can be misleading at imaging evaluation.
Comprehensive Review of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Josloff Kevan , Beiriger Jacob , Khan Adnan , Gawel Richard J. , Kirby Richard S. , Kendrick Aaron D. , Rao Abhinav K. , Wang Roy X. , Schafer Michelle M. , Pearce Margaret E. , Chauhan Kashyap , Shah Yash B. , Marhefka Gregary D. , Halegoua-DeMarzio Dina
Published: November 2022

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a growing global phenomenon, and its damaging effects in terms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are becoming more apparent. NAFLD is estimated to affect around one quarter of the world population and is often comorbid with other metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and metabolic syndrome. In this review, we examine the current evidence describing the many ways that NAFLD itself increases CVD risk. We also discuss the emerging and complex biochemical relationship between NAFLD and its common comorbid conditions, and how they coalesce to increase CVD risk. With NAFLD’s rising prevalence and deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, a complete understanding of the disease must be undertaken, as well as effective strategies to prevent and treat its common comorbid conditions.
Human Attention and Visual Cognition: Introduction
Authors: Sanocki Thomas
Published: November 2022

In a world that is increasingly fast and complex, the human ability to rapidly perceive, comprehend, and act on visual information is extremely important [...]
Mapping Dependence between Extreme Skew-Surge, Rainfall, and River-Flow
Authors: Stephens Scott A. , Wu Wenyan
Published: November 2022

Flooding in coastal areas is a major global hazard, made worse during compound flood events, which occur when multiple flood-drivers, such as tide, sea surge, and fluvial and pluvial flooding, coincide. We use 12 sea-level, 2065 rainfall, and 81 river-flow records to assess the dependence of (1) extreme skew-surge and extreme rainfall (pluvial/surface runoff) and (2) extreme skew-surge and extreme river-flow (fluvial discharge) in New Zealand. We found that (1) skew-surge and rainfall and (2) skew-surge and river-flow are significantly, but not strongly, correlated in NZ. When spatially averaged to within 30 km of sea-level gauge location, the correlation was generally significant and positive, but weak with Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient τ < 0.3. We identify the weather types driving regional patterns of dependence. Trough weather types were the dominant driver of individual and coincident extreme events. Blocking weather types were associated with the highest extreme skew-surge and rainfall events along the northeast coast of the North Island and, consequently, were associated with a high proportion of coincident skew-surge/rainfall and skew-surge/river-flow events there. These findings have important implications for flood management, emergency response, and the insurance sector because impacts and losses may be correlated in space. Our findings add to a growing understanding of compound flooding worldwide for different geographical and meteorological settings. The positive dependence observed suggests that more attention to compound event probabilities is warranted when undertaking localized coastal-flood modelling.
Invasion and Colonization of Pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum R1 in Crocus sativus L. during Corm Rot Disease Progression
Authors: Bhagat Nancy , Magotra Shanu , Gupta Rikita , Sharma Shikha , Verma Sandhya , Verma Praveen Kumar , Ali Tahir , Shree Ankita , Vakhlu Jyoti
Published: November 2022

The corm rot of saffron caused by Fusarium oxysporum (Fox) has been reported to be the most destructive fungal disease of the herb globally. The pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum R1 (Fox R1) isolated by our group from Kashmir, India, was found to be different from Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli commonly reported corm rot agent of saffron. In the present study, Fox R1 was further characterized using housekeeping genes and pathogenicity tests, as Fusarium oxysporum R1 f.sp. iridacearum race 4. Though Fox R1 invaded the saffron plant through both corm and roots, the corm was found to be the preferred site of infection. In addition, the route of pathogen movement wastracked by monitoring visual symptoms, semi-quantitative PCR, quantitative-PCR (q-PCR), real-time imaging of egfp-tagged Fusarium oxysporum R1, and Fox R1 load quantification. This study is the first study of its kind on the bidirectional pathogenesis from corm to roots and vice-versa, as the literature only reports unidirectional upward movement from roots to other parts of the plant. In addition, the colonization pattern of Fox R1 in saffron corms and roots was studied. The present study involved a systematic elucidation of the mode and mechanism of pathogenesis in the saffron Fusarium oxysporum strain R1 pathosystem.
Tomato Xylem Sap Hydrophobins Vdh4 and Vdh5 Are Important for Late Stages of Verticillium dahliae Plant Infection
Authors: Maurus Isabel , Leonard Miriam , Nagel Alexandra , Starke Jessica , Kronstad James W. , Harting Rebekka , Braus Gerhard H.
Published: November 2022

Verticillium dahliae causes economic losses to a wide range of crops as a vascular fungal pathogen. This filamentous ascomycete spends long periods of its life cycle in the plant xylem, a unique environment that requires adaptive processes. Specifically, fungal proteins produced in the xylem sap of the plant host may play important roles in colonizing the plant vasculature and in inducing disease symptoms. RNA sequencing revealed over 1500 fungal transcripts that are significantly more abundant in cells grown in tomato xylem sap compared with pectin-rich medium. Of the 85 genes that are strongly induced in the xylem sap, four genes encode the hydrophobins Vdh1, Vdh2, Vdh4 and Vdh5. Vdh4 and Vhd5 are structurally distinct from each other and from the three other hydrophobins (Vdh1-3) annotated in V. dahliae JR2. Their functions in the life cycle and virulence of V. dahliae were explored using genetics, cell biology and plant infection experiments. Our data revealed that Vdh4 and Vdh5 are dispensable for V. dahliae development and stress response, while both contribute to full disease development in tomato plants by acting at later colonization stages. We conclude that Vdh4 and Vdh5 are functionally specialized fungal hydrophobins that support pathogenicity against plants.
Whole-Genome Analysis of Starmerella bacillaris CC-PT4 against MRSA, a Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Isolated from Grape
Authors: Shen Yong , Bai Xue , Zhou Xiran , Wang Jiaxi , Guo Na , Deng Yanhong
Published: November 2022

Starmerella bacillaris is often isolated from environments associated with grape and winemaking. S. bacillaris has many beneficial properties, including the ability to improve the flavor of wine, the production of beneficial metabolites, and the ability to biocontrol. S. bacillaris CC-PT4 (CGMCC No. 23573) was isolated from grape and can inhibit methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and adaptability to harsh environments. In this paper, the whole genome of S. bacillaris CC-PT4 was sequenced and bioinformatics analyses were performed. The S. bacillaris CC-PT4 genome was finally assembled into five scaffolds with a genome size of 9.45 Mb and a GC content of 39.5%. It was predicted that the strain contained 4150 protein-coding genes, of which two genes encoded killer toxin and one gene encoded lysostaphin. It also contains genes encoding F1F0-ATPases, Na(+)/H(+) antiporter, cation/H(+) antiporter, ATP-dependent bile acid permease, major facilitator superfamily (MFS) antiporters, and stress response protein, which help S. bacillaris CC-PT4 adapt to bile, acid, and other stressful environments. Proteins related to flocculation and adhesion have also been identified in the S. bacillaris CC-PT4 genome. Predicted by antiSMASH, two secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters were found, and the synthesized metabolites may have antimicrobial effects. Furthermore, S. bacillaris CC-PT4 carried genes associated with pathogenicity and drug resistance. Overall, the whole genome sequencing and analysis of S. bacillaris CC-PT4 in this study provide valuable information for understanding the biological characteristics and further development of this strain.
Factors Influencing the Financial Situation and Management of Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Zayed Nurul Mohammad , Mohamed Isse Sudi , Islam Khan Mohammad Anwarul , Perevozova Iryna , Nitsenko Vitalii , Morozova Olena
Published: November 2022

The ambition of this study was to identify the factors that influence the financial situations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Somalia. The research objectives of this study were to determine how capital building affected the financial situations of SMEs in Somalia, how human resource capacity affected the financial situations of SMEs, and what the impact of access to financing was according to the business conditions of SMEs. This study uses both descriptive and quantitative research approaches. The study’s main demographics consisted of 90 SMEs in Somalia; the shortage of female personnel may also be a disadvantage, considering that most paying customers were female. The study’s first research question was to investigate whether the use of committees improves the quality and efficiency of the board’s tasks and mandates. The study’s second research question was to determine the impact of human resources. The study’s findings about market adoption of technological trends also revealed a strong positive relationship between human resource performance and financial performance. The Somali government should implement SME policies based on development and new growth industries, such as migration. Investment and credit firms, such as private sector banks and donor organizations, should lower the requirements for their investments. SME owners and managers should hire educated staff and increase the number of female employees. SME owners and managers should develop training schedules focusing on financial management, innovation, communication, and promotional abilities.
Explainable AI for Credit Assessment in Banks
Authors: de Lange Petter Eilif , Melsom Borger , Vennerød Christian Bakke , Westgaard Sjur
Published: November 2022

Banks’ credit scoring models are required by financial authorities to be explainable. This paper proposes an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) model for predicting credit default on a unique dataset of unsecured consumer loans provided by a Norwegian bank. We combined a LightGBM model with SHAP, which enables the interpretation of explanatory variables affecting the predictions. The LightGBM model clearly outperforms the bank’s actual credit scoring model (Logistic Regression). We found that the most important explanatory variables for predicting default in the LightGBM model are the volatility of utilized credit balance, remaining credit in percentage of total credit and the duration of the customer relationship. Our main contribution is the implementation of XAI methods in banking, exploring how these methods can be applied to improve the interpretability and reliability of state-of-the-art AI models. We also suggest a method for analyzing the potential economic value of an improved credit scoring model.
Assessment of Readiness of Croatian Companies to Introduce I4.0 Technologies
Authors: Hrbić Rajka , Grebenar Tomislav
Published: November 2022

The main topic of this paper is to estimate the possibility and inclination of Croatian companies towards technology and innovation as well as to analyze advantages, limitations and risks involved with this significant technological leap. We analyzed 7147 Croatian business entities operating in different industries in this paper. The starting point in this research is to identify subjects, which could be users of I4.0 or its elements, based on the similarity of indicators with indicators of a sample of 58 identified I4.0 companies. We developed a machine-learning model by using the eXtreme Gradient Boosting algorithm (XGBoost) for this purpose, an approach that has not been used in any similar research. This research shows that the main difference between I4.0 and traditional industry is mostly observable in significantly better business performance of investment indicators, cost efficiency, technical equipment and market competitiveness. We identified 141 companies (1.97% of total analyzed sample) as potential users of I4.0, which makes up around 27% of total assets of the analyzed sample and around 26% of revenues.
The Nature and Function of Languages
Authors: Fabbro Franco , Fabbro Alice , Crescentini Cristiano
Published: November 2022

Several studies in philosophy, linguistics and neuroscience have tried to define the nature and functions of language. Cybernetics and the mathematical theory of communication have clarified the role and functions of signals, symbols and codes involved in the transmission of information. Linguistics has defined the main characteristics of verbal communication by analyzing the main tasks and levels of language. Paleoanthropology has explored the relationship between cognitive development and the origin of language in Homo sapiens. According to Daniel Dor, language represents the most important technological invention of human beings. Seemingly, the main function of language consists of its ability to allow the sharing of the mind’s imaginative products. Following language’s invention, human beings have developed multiple languages and cultures, which, on the one hand, have favored socialization within communities and, on the other hand, have led to an increase in aggression between different human groups.
Genes Associated with Biological Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency Identified Using RNA Sequencing in Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.)
Authors: Vlk David , Trněný Oldřich , Řepková Jana
Published: November 2022

Commonly studied in the context of legume–rhizobia symbiosis, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a key component of the nitrogen cycle in nature. Despite its potential in plant breeding and many years of research, information is still lacking as to the regulation of hundreds of genes connected with plant–bacteria interaction, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation. Here, we compared root nodule transcriptomes of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) genotypes with contrasting nitrogen fixation efficiency, and we found 491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between plants with high and low BNF efficiency. The annotation of genes expressed in nodules revealed more than 800 genes not yet experimentally confirmed. Among genes mediating nodule development, four nod-ule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides were confirmed in the nodule transcriptome. Gene duplication analyses revealed that genes originating from tandem and dispersed duplication are significantly over-represented among DEGs. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) organized expression profiles of the transcripts into 16 modules linked to the analyzed traits, such as nitrogen fixation efficiency or sample-specific modules. Overall, the results obtained broaden our knowledge about transcriptomic landscapes of red clover’s root nodules and shift the phenotypic description of BNF efficiency on the level of gene expression in situ.
Origanum majorana Essential Oil—A Review of Its Chemical Profile and Pesticide Activity
Authors: Kakouri Eleni , Daferera Dimitra , Kanakis Charalabos , Revelou Panagiota-Kyriaki , Kaparakou Eleftheria H. , Dervisoglou Sofia , Perdikis Dionysios , Tarantilis Petros A.
Published: November 2022

Origanum majorana is a medicinal and aromatic plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is cultivated in several parts of the world and, due to its splendid aroma and taste, is widely used for culinary purposes and in perfumes. The essential oil of the plant, to which is attributed its aroma, contains many secondary metabolites with valuable biological activity. One of them is the pesticide activity, which has attracted much interest. Given the necessity of replacing synthetic pesticides, essential oils are studied in an attempt to find naturally derived products. Thus, the aim of this review paper is to discuss the chemical profile of O. majorana essential oil and to present data regarding its insecticidal, repellent and fumigant activity. Data were collected from 1992 to 2022. Databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Scopus, were used for the research, and keywords, including O. majorana, sweet marjoram, essential oil, volatiles, pesticide, insecticide and repellent activity, were used. The results of this review paper indicate that O. majorana essential oil can be an alternative agent to manage pests. However, still, much research should be conducted to evaluate its toxicity against beneficial insects and to ensure its safety for human health.
Gut Microbiota and Cardiovascular System: An Intricate Balance of Health and the Diseased State
Authors: Bhat Mujtaba Aamir , Mishra Awdhesh Kumar , Tantray Javeed Ahmad , Alatawi Hanan Ali , Saeed Mohd , Rahman Safikur , Jan Arif Tasleem
Published: November 2022

Gut microbiota encompasses the resident microflora of the gut. Having an intricate relationship with the host, it plays an important role in regulating physiology and in the maintenance of balance between health and disease. Though dietary habits and the environment play a critical role in shaping the gut, an imbalance (referred to as dysbiosis) serves as a driving factor in the occurrence of different diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). With risk factors of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, etc., CVD accounts for a large number of deaths among men (32%) and women (35%) worldwide. As gut microbiota is reported to have a direct influence on the risk factors associated with CVDs, this opens up new avenues in exploring the possible role of gut microbiota in regulating the gross physiological aspects along the gut–heart axis. The present study elaborates on different aspects of the gut microbiota and possible interaction with the host towards maintaining a balance between health and the occurrence of CVDs. As the gut microbiota makes regulatory checks for these risk factors, it has a possible role in shaping the gut and, as such, in decreasing the chances of the occurrence of CVDs. With special emphasis on the risk factors for CVDs, this paper includes information on the prominent bacterial species (Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes and others) towards an advance in our understanding of the etiology of CVDs and an exploration of the best possible therapeutic modules for implementation in the treatment of different CVDs along the gut–heart axis.
Adverse Events of PD-1 or PD-L1 Inhibitors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yixi , Wang Jingyuan , Hu Taobo , Wang Huina , Long Mengping , Liang Baosheng
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the treatment-related adverse events when using PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). (2) Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of Phase II/III randomized clinical trials. Studies were searched for using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from 1 March 1980 till 30 June 2022. Data on adverse events were mainly extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov and published articles. A generalized linear mixed model with the logit transformation was employed to obtain the overall incidence of adverse events across all studies. For serious adverse events with low incidences, the Peto method was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) in the PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors groups compared to the control groups. (3) Results: Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, including a total of 2941 TNBC patients treated with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors (including atezolizumab, pembrolizumab and durvalumab) and 2339 patients in the control groups. Chemotherapy alone was the control group in all studies. The average incidences of all serious immune-related adverse events of interest (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pneumonitis, pruritus, rash) were less than 1%, except for adrenal insufficiency (1.70%, 95%CI: 0.50–5.61%) in the PD-1 or PD-L1 groups. PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors significantly increased the risk of serious pneumonitis (OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.02–6.26), hypothyroidism (OR = 5.92, 95%CI: 1.22–28.86), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.12–2.45), and adrenal insufficiency (OR = 18.81, 95%CI: 3.42–103.40). For non-serious adverse events, the patients treated with PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors had higher risk of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation (OR =1.26, 95%CI: 1.02–1.57), hypothyroidism (OR = 3.63, 95%CI: 2.92–4.51), pruritus (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.30–2.59), rash (OR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.08–1.55), and fever (OR = 1.77, 95%CI: 1.13–2.77), compared with chemotherapy alone. (4) Conclusions: The incidence of serious immune-related adverse events in PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors groups is low but significantly higher than in chemotherapy groups. When using PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors for the treatment of TNBC, serious pneumonitis, hypothyroidism, ALT elevation, and adrenal insufficiency should be considered. Non-serious adverse events, such as AST elevation, rash, and fever, should also be taken into consideration.
Evaluation of SLS 3D-Printed Filter Structures Based on Bionic Manta Structures
Authors: Adelmann Benedikt , Schwiddessen Tobias , Götzendorfer Babette , Hellmann Ralf
Published: November 2022

We report on additively manufactured filter systems based on bionic manta ray structures and evaluate their filter performance. The filters are periodic lamella structures produced by selective laser sintering using PA12 polyamide powder. Two different lamella types are investigated, which are derived from two manta ray genera, namely, Mobula tarapacana and Manta birostris. The precipitator efficiency of sand particles in water is determined for both flow directions, which are referred to as the “wing” and “spoiler” arrangements. With a flat filter design, more than 90% of sand particles can be removed from the water. The variation of the lamella distance reveals that the filter effect is based on the different dynamic flow of particles and water rather than filtering by the hole size. The successful transformation of the primary flat filter design into a round filter structure is demonstrated with precipitator efficiencies above 95% and a ratio of filtered to unfiltered water of 1:1 being achieved, depending of the gap between the filter and the surrounding pipe. A shortening of the filter structure results in an unaltered precipitator efficiency but a lower ratio of filtered water. These results reveal the peculiar possibility to produce 3D round-shaped filters based on manta ray structures with additive manufacturing, achieving good precipitator efficiencies.
Creating Financial and Social Value by Improving Employee Well-Being: A PLS-SEM Application in SMEs
Authors: Rubio-Andrés Mercedes , Ramos-González Ma del Mar , Gutiérrez-Broncano Santiago , Sastre-Castillo Miguel Ángel
Published: November 2022

In the business world, the improvement of employee well-being in organizations is important, as there is empirical evidence that it brings social value and economic benefits to organizations. To advance in this line of research, we considered SMEs as the object of study due to their importance in Spanish businesses and the scarcity of empirical studies on the subject. We use the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyse the measurement models and the structural model. Our research focuses on the importance of influential variables on well-being, but also considers how they affect financial performance. In the model that we present, there is a direct effect between the latent variables HPWS, well-being, reputation and financial performance, which represents how human resource management based on good practice in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) positively affects well-being by creating a good reputation and generating more business wealth. Our findings confirm the direct relationships proposed in the model, as well as the relevance of well-being and reputation as mediating variables.
Kinematics of Mechanical Systems by Dynamic Geometry
Authors: Ciobanu Gabriel , Rusu Dănuţ
Published: November 2022

The advancement of technology influenced the development of mechanical and mechatronic systems. This article presents the integration of new technologies into traditional mechanics. Specifically, it presents a flexible interactive software for dynamic plane geometry used for designing, simulating and analyzing the mechanical systems. The article presents this interactive software for dynamic geometry as a useful tool for the kinematic analysis of constrained linkages. The simulation and kinematic analysis of some mechanical systems are presented.
A Convergent Algorithm for Equilibrium Problem to Predict Prospective Mathematics Teachers’ Technology Integrated Competency
Authors: Jun-on Nipa , Cholamjiak Watcharaporn , Suparatulatorn Raweerote
Published: November 2022

Educational data classification has become an effective tool for exploring the hidden pattern or relationship in educational data and predicting students’ performance or teachers’ competency. This study proposes a new method based on machine learning algorithms to predict the technology-integrated competency of pre-service mathematics teachers. In this paper, we modified the inertial subgradient extragradient algorithm for pseudomonotone equilibrium and proved the weak convergence theorem under some suitable conditions in Hilbert spaces. We then applied to solve data classification by extreme learning machine using the dataset comprised of the technology-integrated competency of 954 pre-service mathematics teachers in a university in northern Thailand, longitudinally collected for five years. The flexibility of our algorithm was shown by comparisons of the choice of different parameters. The performance was calculated and compared with the existing algorithms to be implemented for prediction. The results show that the proposed method achieved a classification accuracy of 81.06%. The predictions were implemented using ten attributes, including demographic information, skills, and knowledge relating to technology developed throughout the teacher education program. Such data driven studies are significant for establishing a prospective teacher competency analysis framework in teacher education and contributing to decision-making for policy design.