bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vitro and In Vivo Biocompatibility of Boron/Nitrogen Co-Doped Carbon Nano-Onions
Authors: d’Amora Marta , Camisasca Adalberto , Arenal Raul , Giordani Silvia
Published: November 2021

Boron/nitrogen, co-doped, carbon nano-onions (BN-CNOs) have recently shown great promise as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction, due to the improved electronic properties imparted by the dopant atoms; however, the interactions of BN-CNOs with biological systems have not yet been explored. In this study, we examined the toxicological profiles of BN-CNOs and oxidized BN-CNOs (oxi-BN-CNOs) in vitro in both healthy and cancer cell lines, as well as on the embryonic stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in vivo. The cell viabilities of both cell lines cells were not affected after treatment with different concentrations of both doped CNO derivatives. On the other hand, the analysis of BN-CNOs and oxidized BN-CNO interactions with zebrafish embryos did not report any kind of perturbations, in agreement with the in vitro results. Our results show that both doped CNO derivatives possess a high biocompatibility and biosafety in cells and more complex systems.
Nutritional and Non-Nutritional Predictors of Low Spot Urinary Creatinine Concentration in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Malinowska-Borowska Jolanta , Kulik Aleksandra , Buczkowska Marta , Ostręga Weronika , Stefaniak Apolonia , Piecuch Małgorzata , Garbicz Jagoda , Nowak Jolanta Urszula , Tajstra Mateusz , Jankowska Ewa Anita , Gąsior Mariusz , Rozentryt Piotr
Published: November 2021

Low spot urinary creatinine concentration (SUCR) is a marker of muscle wasting and clinical outcome. The risk factors for low SUCR in heart failure (HF) remain poorly understood. We explored the risk factors for low SUCR related to poor outcomes. In 721 HF patients (age: 52.3 ± 11 years, female: 14%, NYHA: 2.7 ± 0.7) SUCR and Dexa body composition scans were performed. BMI prior HF-onset, weight loss, and appendicular muscle mass were obtained. Each patient was classified as malnutrition or normal by GLIM criteria and three other biochemical indices (CONUT, PNI, and GRNI). Sarcopenia index (SI) as creatinine to cystatin C ratio was also calculated. Within 1 year, 80 (11.1%) patients died. In ROC curve we identified a SUCR value of 0.628 g/L as optimally discriminating surviving from dead. In low SUCR group more advanced HF, higher weight loss and catabolic components of weight trajectory (CCWT), more frequent under-nutrition by GLIM, and lower SI were observed. In multivariate analysis the independent predictors of low SUCR were SI, CCWT, and GNRI score. In conclusion: the risk of low SUCR was associated with a worse outcome. Low SUCR was associated with greater catabolism and sarcopenia but not with biochemical indices of malnutrition.
Preparation, Characterization, and Anticancer Effects of Capsaicin-Loaded Nanoliposomes
Authors: Al-Samydai Ali , Alshaer Walhan , Al-Dujaili Emad A. S. , Azzam Hanan , Aburjai Talal
Published: November 2021

Background: Medicinal plants have proven their value as a source of molecules with therapeutic potential, and recent studies have shown that capsaicin has profound anticancer effects in several types of human cancers. However, its clinical use is handicapped due to its poor pharmacokinetics. This study aims to enhance capsaicin’s pharmacokinetic properties by loading the molecule into nanoliposomes model and testing its anticancer activity. Methods: Nanoliposomes were prepared using the thin-film method, and characteristics were examined followed by qualitative and quantitative analyses of encapsulation efficiency and drug loading using HPLC at different lipid/capsaicin ratios. Cell viability assay (MTT) was used to determine IC50. Results: Capsaicin-loaded nanoliposomes showed optimum characteristics of morphology, particle size, zeta potential, and stability. In vitro anticancer activity of capsaicin and capsaicin-loaded nanoliposomes were compared against MCF7, MDA-MB-231, K562, PANC1, and A375 cell lines. Capsaicin-loaded nanoliposomes showed significant improvement in anticancer activity against cancers cell lines studied (p < 0.001), with increased selectivity against cancer cells compared to capsaicin. Conclusion: The encapsulated capsaicin nanoliposomes produced an improvement in pharmacokinetics properties, enhancing the anticancer activity and selectivity compared with capsaicin. This model seems to offer a potential for developing capsaicin formulations for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Overexpression of Plasmodium falciparum M1 Aminopeptidase Promotes an Increase in Intracellular Proteolysis and Modifies the Asexual Erythrocytic Cycle Development
Authors: Hoff Carolina C. , Azevedo Mauro F. , Thurler Adriana B. , Maluf Sarah El Chamy , Melo Pollyana M. S. , del Rivero Maday Alonso , González-Bacerio Jorge , Carmona Adriana K. , Budu Alexandre , Gazarini Marcos L.
Published: November 2021

Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent of the human malaria parasite, is responsible for high mortality rates worldwide. We studied the M1 alanyl-aminopeptidase of this protozoan (PfA-M1), which is involved in the final stages of hemoglobin cleavage, an essential process for parasite survival. Aiming to help in the rational development of drugs against this target, we developed a new strain of P. falciparum overexpressing PfA-M1 without the signal peptide (overPfA-M1). The overPfA-M1 parasites showed a 2.5-fold increase in proteolytic activity toward the fluorogenic substrate alanyl-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin, in relation to the wild-type group. Inhibition studies showed that overPfA-M1 presented a lower sensitivity against the metalloaminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin and to other recombinant PfA-M1 inhibitors, in comparison with the wild-type strain, indicating that PfA-M1 is a target for the in vitro antimalarial activity of these compounds. Moreover, overPfA-M1 parasites present a decreased in vitro growth, showing a reduced number of merozoites per schizont, and also a decrease in the iRBC area occupied by the parasite in trophozoite and schizont forms when compared to the controls. Interestingly, the transgenic parasite displays an increase in the aminopeptidase activity toward Met-, Ala-, Leu- and Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin. We also investigated the potential role of calmodulin and cysteine proteases in PfA-M1 activity. Taken together, our data show that the overexpression of PfA-M1 in the parasite cytosol can be a suitable tool for the screening of antimalarials in specific high-throughput assays and may be used for the identification of intracellular molecular partners that modulate their activity in P. falciparum.
Spatial Distribution Patterns and Driving Factors of Plant Biomass and Leaf N, P Stoichiometry on the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Fang Zhao , Han Xiaoyu , Xie Mingyang , Jiao Feng
Published: November 2021

Understanding the geographic patterns and potential drivers of leaf stoichiometry and plant biomass is critical for modeling the biogeochemical cycling of ecosystems and to forecast the responses of ecosystems to global changes. Therefore, we studied the spatial patterns and potential drivers of leaf stoichiometry and herb biomass from 15 sites spanning from south to north along a 500 km latitudinal gradient of the Loess Plateau. We found that leaf N and P stoichiometry and the biomass of herb plants varied greatly on the Loess Plateau, showing spatial patterns, and there were significant differences among the four vegetation zones. With increasing latitude (decreasing mean annual temperature and decreasing mean precipitation), aboveground and belowground biomass displayed an opening downward parabolic trend, while the root–shoot ratio gradually decreased. Furthermore, there were significant linear relationships between the leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents and latitude and climate (mean annual rainfall and mean annual temperature). However, the leaf N/P ratio showed no significant latitudinal or climatic trends. Redundancy analysis and stepwise regression analysis revealed herb biomass and leaf N and P contents were strongly related to environmental driving factors (slope, soil P content and latitude, altitude, mean annual rainfall and mean annual temperature). Compared with global scale results, herb plants on the Loess Plateau are characterized by relatively lower biomass, higher N content, lower P content and a higher N/P ratio, and vegetative growth may be more susceptible to P limitation. These findings indicated that the remarkable spatial distribution patterns of leaf N and P stoichiometry and herb biomass were jointly regulated by the climate, soil properties and topographic properties, providing new insights into potential vegetation restoration strategies.
PMMA Bone Cements Modified with Silane-Treated and PMMA-Grafted Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystals: Preparation and Characterization
Authors: Tham Do Quang , Huynh Mai Duc , Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu , Van Do Thi Cam , Cong Do Van , Dung Nguyen Thi Kim , Trang Nguyen Thi Thu , Lam Pham Van , Hoang Thai , Lam Tran Dai
Published: November 2021

In this study, vinyltrimethoxysilane-treated hydroxyapatite (vHAP) and PMMA-grafted HAP (gHAP) were successfully prepared from original HAP (oHAP). Three kinds of HAP (oHAP, vHAP and g HAP) were used as additives for the preparation of three groups of HAP-modified PMMA bone cements (oHAP-BC, vHAP-BC and gHAP-BC). The setting, bending and compression properties of the bone cements were conducted according to ISO 5833:2002. The obtained results showed that the maximum temperature while curing the HAP-modified bone cements (HAP-BCs) decreased from 64.9 to 60.8 °C and the setting time increased from 8.1 to 14.0 min, respectively, with increasing HAP loading from 0 to 15 wt.%. The vHAP-BC and gHAP-BC groups exhibited higher mechanical properties than the required values in ISO 5833. Electron microscopy images showed that the vHAP and gHAP nanoparticles were dispersed better in the polymerized PMMA matrix than the oHAP nanoparticles. FTIR analysis indicated the polar interaction between the PO4 groups of the HAP nanoparticles and the ester groups of the polymerized PMMA matrix. Thermal gravimetric analysis indicated that mixtures of ZrO2/HAPs were not able to significantly improve the thermal stability of the HAP-BCs. DSC diagrams showed that the incorporation of gHAP to PMMA bone cement with loadings lower than 10 wt.% can increase Tg by about 2.4 °C.
Graphite Classification Based on Improved Convolution Neural Network
Authors: Liu Guangjun , Xu Xiaoping , Yu Xiangjia , Wang Feng
Published: November 2021

In the development of high-tech industries, graphite has become increasingly more important. The world has gradually entered the graphite era from the silicon era. In order to make good use of high-quality graphite resources, a graphite classification and recognition algorithm based on an improved convolution neural network is proposed in this paper. Based on the self-built initial data set, the offline expansion and online enhancement of the data set can effectively expand the data set and reduce the risk of deep convolution neural network overfitting. Based on the visual geometry group 16 (VGG16), residual net 34 (ResNet34), and mobile net Vision 2 (MobileNet V2), a new output module is redesigned and loaded into the full connection layer. The improved migration network enhances the generalization ability and robustness of the model; moreover, combined with the focal loss function, the superparameters of the model are modified and trained on the basis of the graphite data set. The simulation results illustrate that the recognition accuracy of the proposed method is significantly improved, the convergence speed is accelerated, and the model is more stable, which proves the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Monitoring and Forecasting of Urban Expansion Using Machine Learning-Based Techniques and Remotely Sensed Data: A Case Study of Gharbia Governorate, Egypt
Authors: Mostafa Eman , Li Xuxiang , Sadek Mohammed , Dossou Jacqueline Fifame
Published: November 2021

Rapid population growth is the main driver of the accelerating urban sprawl into agricultural lands in Egypt. This is particularly obvious in governorates where there is no desert backyard (e.g., Gharbia) for urban expansion. This work presents an overview of machine learning-based and state-of-the-art remote sensing products and methodologies to address the issue of random urban expansion, which negatively impacts environmental sustainability. The study aims (1) to investigate the land-use/land-cover (LULC) changes over the past 27 years, and to simulate the future LULC dynamics over Gharbia; and (2) to produce an Urbanization Risk Map in order for the decision-makers to be informed of the districts with priority for sustainable planning. Time-series Landsat images were utilized to analyze the historical LULC change between 1991 and 2018, and to predict the LULC change by 2033 and 2048 based on a logistic regression–Markov chain model. The results show that there is a rapid urbanization trend corresponding to a diminution of the agricultural land. The agricultural sector represented 91.2% of the total land area in 1991, which was reduced to 83.7% in 2018. The built-up area exhibited a similar (but reversed) pattern. The results further reveal that the observed LULC dynamics will continue in a like manner in the future, confirming a remarkable urban sprawl over the agricultural land from 2018 to 2048. The cultivated land changes have a strong negative correlation with the built-up cover changes (the R2 were 0.73 in 1991–2003, and 0.99 in 2003–2018, respectively). Based on the Fuzzy TOPSIS technique, Mahalla Kubra and Tanta are the districts which were most susceptible to the undesirable environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the persistent urbanization. Such an unplanned loss of the fertile agricultural lands of the Nile Delta could negatively influence the production of premium agricultural crops for the local market and export. This study is substantial for the understanding of future trends of LULC changes, and for the proposal of alternative policies to reduce urban sprawl on fertile agricultural lands.
Drifting Speed of Lagrangian Fronts and Oil Spill Dispersal at the Ocean Surface
Authors: Fifani Gina , Baudena Alberto , Fakhri Milad , Baaklini Georges , Faugère Yannice , Morrow Rosemary , Mortier Laurent , d’Ovidio Francesco
Published: November 2021

Due to its dire impacts on marine life, public health, and socio-economic services, oil spills require an immediate response. Effective action starts with good knowledge of the ocean dynamics and circulation, from which Lagrangian methods derive key information on the dispersal pathways present in the contaminated region. However, precise assessments of the capacity of Lagrangian methods in real contamination cases remain rare and limited to large slicks spanning several hundreds of km. Here we address this knowledge gap and consider two medium-scale (tens of km wide) events of oil in contrasting conditions: an offshore case (East China Sea, 2018) and a recent near-coastal one (East Mediterranean, 2021). Our comparison between oil slicks and Lagrangian diagnostics derived from near-real-time velocity fields shows that the calculation of Lagrangian fronts is, in general, more robust to errors in the velocity fields and more informative on the dispersion pathways than the direct advection of a numerical tracer. The inclusion of the effect of wind is also found to be essential, being capable of suddenly breaking Lagrangian transport barriers. Finally, we show that a usually neglected Lagrangian quantity, the Lyapunov vector, can be exploited to predict the front drifting speed, and in turn, its future location over a few days, on the basis of near-real-time information alone. These results may be of special relevance in the context of next-generation altimetry missions that are expected to provide highly resolved and precise near-real-time velocity fields for both open ocean and coastal regions.
A RFID-Integrated Framework for Tag Anti-Collision in UAV-Aided VANETs
Authors: He Yixin , Wang Dawei , Huang Fanghui , Zhang Yufei , Zhang Ruonan , Yan Xiaohong
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we investigate tags in anti-collision applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). The integration of RFID technology in UAV-aided VANETs can provide reliable traffic-related services for vehicles. However, multiple tags’ simultaneous responses to a reader mounted on a UAV, denoted as tag collision, gravely affect the correct tag detection on each vehicle. Therefore, in order to decrease the collision probability and improve the throughput, we propose a multi-frequency tag identification method. In the proposed scheme, we devise a tag grouping method based on adaptive power control to make the reader dynamically match the optimal frame length. Based on the above matching results, we introduce a tag estimation method using the optimal weight to improve the accuracy of tag estimation. We theoretically analyze the closed-form expression of the security outage probability expression. Finally, our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed tag anti-collision scheme achieved significant performance superiority in terms of the throughput and identification time slots.
A Methodology for CO2 Retrieval Applied to Hyperspectral PRISMA Data
Authors: Romaniello Vito , Spinetti Claudia , Silvestri Malvina , Buongiorno Maria Fabrizia
Published: November 2021

The aim of this work is to develop and test a simple methodology for CO2 emission retrieval applied to hyperspectral PRISMA data. Model simulations are used to infer the best SWIR channels for CO2 retrieval purposes, the weight coefficients for a Continuum Interpolated Band Ratio (CIBR) index calculation, and the factor for converting the CIBR values to XCO2 (ppm) estimations above the background. This method has been applied to two test cases relating to the LUSI volcanic area (Indonesia) and the Solfatara area in the caldera of Campi Flegrei (Italy). The results show the capability of the method to detect and estimate CO2 emissions at a local spatial scale and the potential of PRISMA acquisitions for gas retrieval. The limits of the method are also evaluated and discussed, indicating a satisfactory application for medium/strong emissions and over soils with a reflectance greater than 0.1.
Global Wave Velocity Change Measurement of Rock Material by Full-Waveform Correlation
Authors: Zhou Jing , Zhou Zilong , Zhao Yuan , Cai Xin
Published: November 2021

Measuring accurate wave velocity change is a crucial step in damage assessment of building materials such as rock and concrete. The anisotropy caused by the generation of cracks in the damage process and the uncertainty of the damage level of these building materials make it difficult to obtain accurate wave velocity change. We propose a new method to measure the wave velocity change of anisotropic media at any damage level by full-waveform correlation. In this method, the anisotropy caused by the generation of cracks in the damage process is considered. The accuracy of the improved method is verified by numerical simulation and compared with the existing methods. Finally, the proposed method is applied to measure the wave velocity change in the damage process of rock under uniaxial compression. We monitor the failure process of rock by acoustic emission (AE) monitoring system. Compared with the AE ringing count, the result of damage evaluation obtained by the proposed method is more accurate than the other two methods in the stage of increasing rock heterogeneity. These results show that the proposed method is feasible in damage assessment of building materials such as rock and concrete.
An Ultra-Sensitive Multi-Functional Optical Micro/Nanofiber Based on Stretchable Encapsulation
Authors: Xiang Siheng , You Hui , Miao Xinxiang , Niu Longfei , Yao Caizhen , Jiang Yilan , Zhou Guorui
Published: November 2021

Stretchable optical fiber sensors (SOFSs), which are promising and ultra-sensitive next-generation sensors, have achieved prominent success in applications including health monitoring, robotics, and biological–electronic interfaces. Here, we report an ultra-sensitive multi-functional optical micro/nanofiber embedded with a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane, which is compatible with wearable optical sensors. Based on the effect of a strong evanescent field, the as-fabricated SOFS is highly sensitive to strain, achieving high sensitivity with a peak gauge factor of 450. In addition, considering the large negative thermo-optic coefficient of PDMS, temperature measurements in the range of 30 to 60 °C were realized, resulting in a 0.02 dBm/°C response. In addition, wide-range detection of humidity was demonstrated by a peak sensitivity of 0.5 dB/% RH, with less than 10% variation at each humidity stage. The robust sensing performance, together with the flexibility, enables the real-time monitoring of pulse, body temperature, and respiration. This as-fabricated SOFS provides significant potential for the practical application of wearable healthcare sensors.
Data-Driven Model-Free Adaptive Control of Z-Source Inverters
Authors: Asadi Yasin , Ahmadi Amirhossein , Mohammadi Sasan , Amani Ali Moradi , Marzband Mousa , Mohammadi-ivatloo Behnam
Published: November 2021

The universal paradigm shift towards green energy has accelerated the development of modern algorithms and technologies, among them converters such as Z-Source Inverters (ZSI) are playing an important role. ZSIs are single-stage inverters which are capable of performing both buck and boost operations through an impedance network that enables the shoot-through state. Despite all advantages, these inverters are associated with the non-minimum phase feature imposing heavy restrictions on their closed-loop response. Moreover, uncertainties such as parameter perturbation, unmodeled dynamics, and load disturbances may degrade their performance or even lead to instability, especially when model-based controllers are applied. To tackle these issues, a data-driven model-free adaptive controller is proposed in this paper which guarantees stability and the desired performance of the inverter in the presence of uncertainties. It performs the control action in two steps: First, a model of the system is updated using the current input and output signals of the system. Based on this updated model, the control action is re-tuned to achieve the desired performance. The convergence and stability of the proposed control system are proved in the Lyapunov sense. Experiments corroborate the effectiveness and superiority of the presented method over model-based controllers including PI, state feedback, and optimal robust linear quadratic integral controllers in terms of various metrics.
Network Lifetime Improvement through Energy-Efficient Hybrid Routing Protocol for IoT Applications
Authors: Mishra Mukesh , Gupta Gourab Sen , Gui Xiang
Published: November 2021

The application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) poses serious challenges in preserving network longevity since the IoT necessitates a considerable amount of energy usage for sensing, processing, and data communication. As a result, there are several conventional algorithms that aim to enhance the performance of WSN networks by incorporating various optimization strategies. These algorithms primarily focus on the network layer by developing routing protocols to perform reliable communication in an energy-efficient manner, thus leading to an enhanced network life. For increasing the network lifetime in WSNs, clustering has been widely accepted as an important method that groups sensor nodes (SNs) into clusters. Additionally, numerous researchers have been focusing on devising various methods to increase the network lifetime. The prime factor that helps to maximize the network lifetime is the minimization of energy consumption. The authors of this paper propose a multi-objective optimization approach. It selects the optimal route for transmitting packets from source to sink or the base station (BS). The proposed model employs a two-step approach. The first step employs a trust model to select the cluster heads (CHs) that manage the data communication between the BS and nodes in the cluster. Further, a novel hybrid algorithm, combining a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and a genetic algorithm (GA), is proposed to determine the routes for data transmission. To validate the efficacy of the proposed hybrid algorithm, named PSOGA, simulations were conducted and the results were compared with the existing LEACH method and PSO, with a random route selection for five different cases. The obtained results establish the efficiency of the proposed approach, as it outperforms existing methods with increased energy efficiency, increased network throughput, high packet delivery rate, and high residual energy throughout the entire iterations.
Layer-Averaged Water Temperature Sensing in a Lake by Acoustic Tomography with a Focus on the Inversion Stratification Mechanism
Authors: Xu Shijie , Xue Zhao , Xie Xinyi , Huang Haocai , Li Guangming
Published: November 2021

Continuous sensing of water parameters is of great importance to fluid dynamic progress study in oceans, coastal areas and inland waters. The acoustic tomography technique can perform water temperature field measurements horizontally and vertically using sound wave travel information. The layer-averaged water temperature can also be measured with the acoustic tomography method. However, investigations focusing on the stratified mechanism, which consists of stratification form and its influence on inversion error, are seldom performed. In this study, an acoustic tomography experiment was carried out in a reservoir along two vertical slices to observe the layer-averaged water temperature. Specifically, multi-path sound travel information is identified through ray tracing using high-precision topography data obtained via a ship-mounted ADCP during the experiment. Vertical slices between sound stations are divided into different layers to study layer division inversion methods in different preset types. The inversion method is used to calculate the average water temperature and inversion temperature error of every layer. Different layer methods are studied with a comparison of results. The layer division principle studied in this paper can be used for layer-averaged water temperature sensing with multi-path sound transmission information.
Purification and Biochemical Characterization of Taxadiene Synthase from Bacillus koreensis and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: El-Sayed Ashraf S. A. , Fathalla Maher , Shindia Ahmed A. , Rady Amgad M. , El-Baz Ashraf F. , Morsy Yara , Sitohy Basel , Sitohy Mahmoud
Published: November 2021

Taxadiene synthase (TDS) is the rate-limiting enzyme of Taxol biosynthesis that cyclizes the geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate into taxadiene. Attenuating Taxol productivity by fungi is the main challenge impeding its industrial application; it is possible that silencing the expression of TDS is the most noticeable genomic feature associated with Taxol-biosynthetic abolishing in fungi. As such, the characterization of TDS with unique biochemical properties and autonomous expression that is independent of transcriptional factors from the host is the main challenge. Thus, the objective of this study was to kinetically characterize TDS from endophytic bacteria isolated from different plants harboring Taxol-producing endophytic fungi. Among the recovered 23 isolates, Bacillus koreensis and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia achieved the highest TDS activity. Upon using the Plackett–Burman design, the TDS productivity achieved by B. koreensis (18.1 µmol/mg/min) and S. maltophilia (14.6 µmol/mg/min) increased by ~2.2-fold over the control. The enzyme was purified by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography with ~15 overall folds and with molecular subunit structure 65 and 80 kDa from B. koreensis and S. maltophilia, respectively. The chemical identity of taxadiene was authenticated from the GC-MS analyses, which provided the same mass fragmentation pattern of authentic taxadiene. The tds gene was screened by PCR with nested primers of the conservative active site domains, and the amplicons were sequenced, displaying a higher similarity with tds from T. baccata and T. brevifolia. The highest TDS activity by both bacterial isolates was recorded at 37–40 °C. The Apo-TDSs retained ~50% of its initial holoenzyme activities, ensuring their metalloproteinic identity. The activity of purified TDS was completely restored upon the addition of Mg2+, confirming the identity of Mg2+ as a cofactor. The TDS activity was dramatically reduced upon the addition of DTNB and MBTH, ensuring the implementation of cysteine-reactive thiols and ammonia groups on their active site domains. This is the first report exploring the autonomous robust expression TDS from B. koreensis and S. maltophilia with a higher affinity to cyclize GGPP into taxadiene, which could be a novel platform for taxadiene production as intermediary metabolites of Taxol biosynthesis.
Enabling Immersive Exercise Activities for Older Adults: A Comparison of Virtual Reality Exergames and Traditional Video Exercises
Authors: Kruse Lucie , Karaosmanoglu Sukran , Rings Sebastian , Ellinger Benedikt , Steinicke Frank
Published: November 2021

Participating in cognitive and physical activities can help older adults to live a healthy and independent life. However, with the ongoing pandemic, face-to-face training options became unavailable or limited, yielding a need for alternatives. In this paper, we conducted a user study with older adults (N = 25) to compare a traditional, recorded 2D gymnastics video with an immersive virtual reality (VR) exergame. We evaluated the movement and heart rate of the participants, as well as their enjoyment, attention to the task, and perceived workload. In the VR condition, we additionally assessed their feeling of cybersickness. Finally, qualitative feedback about their preferences was collected. The results indicate that our immersive VR exergame can be a suitable alternative, but not a replacement for traditional 2D video-based exercise activities. Furthermore, the cognitive aspect of exergames can lead to the feeling of physical workload, even if easy movements are performed. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results for future VR exergames and point out advantages and disadvantages of the systems.
More of the Same? Comparing the Personalities of Ex-Spouse and New Partner after Divorce
Authors: Spikic Sascha , Mortelmans Dimitri , Van Gasse Dries
Published: November 2021

The similarity of the Big Five personality traits of ex-spouses and new partners was examined post-divorce. The notion that divorcees replicate their partner choice (fixed-type hypothesis) was tested against the hypotheses that they learn to select a new partner with more marriage-stabilizing personality traits than their former spouse (learning hypothesis), or are constrained by marriage market forces to repartner with someone who has less stabilizing personality traits (marriage market hypothesis). Data was derived from a Flemish study that sampled divorcees from the national register. The sample consisted of 700 triads of divorcees, their ex-spouses, and their new partners. The analysis results rejected the fixed-type hypothesis and instead supported both the learning hypothesis and the marriage market hypothesis, with higher order repartnering supporting the latter. Women also seemed to validate both hypotheses, as their partner comparison showed decreases in both stabilizing traits (conscientiousness and agreeableness) and destabilizing traits (neuroticism and extraversion). Overall, the results seem to suggest that divorcees do not repartner with someone of the same personality as their ex-spouse, and they are in some cases constrained by marriage market forces to repartner with less stabilizing personalities, while in other cases they are able to improve their partner selection.
Erratum: Niering, M.; Muehlbauer, T. Effects of Physical Training on Physical and Psychological Parameters in Individuals with Patella Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports 2021, 9, 12
Authors: Niering Marc , Muehlbauer Thomas
Published: November 2021

The authors would like to correct an error in the name of the condition in the recently published paper [...]
Patterns of Inequalities in Digital Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Hackfort Sarah
Published: November 2021

Digitalization of agriculture is often hailed as the next agricultural revolution. However, little is yet known about its social impacts and power effects. This review addresses this research gap by analyzing patterns of inequality linked to the development and adoption of digital technologies in agriculture and reviewing the strategies developed to reduce these inequalities and challenge the power relations in which they are embedded. Analysis of 84 publications found through a systematic literature review identified five patterns of inequality: (1) in digital technology development; (2) in the distribution of benefits from the use of digital technologies; (3) in sovereignty over data, hardware and digital infrastructure; (4) in skills and knowledge (‘digital literacy’); and (5) in problem definition and problem-solving capacities. This review also highlights the existence of emancipatory initiatives that are applying digital technologies to challenge existing inequalities and to advance alternative visions of agriculture. These initiatives underscore the political nature of digital agriculture; however, their reach is still quite limited. This is partly due to the fact that existing inequalities are structural and represent expressions of corporate power. From such a perspective, digitalization in agriculture is not a ‘revolution’ per se; rather, digital technologies mirror and reproduce existing power relations.
Bioeconomy and Livestock Production Nexus: A Bibliometric Network Analysis
Authors: Paltaki Aikaterini , Michailidis Anastasios , Chatzitheodoridis Fotios , Zaralis Konstantinos , Loizou Efstratios
Published: November 2021

Over the last couple of decades, the livestock production systems of the agri-food sector increase meat production in order to meet the demand and adapt to satisfy the food preferences of the continuously increasingly world population. This fact, along with the promotion of sustainable production, has brought to light the topic of bioeconomy. The rapid increase in publications on the research area of bioeconomy has become the motivation for this study in order to analyze its relation with livestock production. This study provides a thorough review of the scientific literature on the bioeconomy of livestock production. The bibliometric network analysis (i.e., software VOSviewer) were performed over the time frame of 2004–2021. The results identified 624 documents bioeconomy of livestock production by 160 research organizations from 83 countries. This paper visualizes the strongest links about livestock production bioeconomy, main research topics, most influential countries, authors, and organizations, as well as high-frequency keywords. Therefore, this study contributes to building global bioeconomy policies and encouraging the livestock sector to implement bioeconomy practices. The research gap identified in many countries should be the trigger for future research in this subject.
Joining the Dots—Understanding the Value Generation of Creative Networks for Sustainability in Local Creative Ecosystems
Authors: Komorowski Marlen , Lupu Ruxandra , Pepper Sara , Lewis Justin
Published: November 2021

In recent years, the ecological shift from an economically driven model of arts and culture to that of an ecosystem in the creative industries determined the emergence of a range of new bottom-up, place-based networks herewith referred to as “creative networks”. This article explores how these networks can generate sustainability for local creative ecosystems through a value network approach. Building on the quadruple helix model to identify the actors in these networks, this study explores the relationships and value flows between the actors of 22 identified creative networks across the UK. It then maps these relationships using data gathered through a mixed methodology that includes survey data and focus group research. Our findings show that creative networks operate as central nodes of the local creative ecosystem, functioning as a ‘glue’ inside the otherwise very heterogenous creative industries. From this position, creative networks can act as catalysts for sustainability. However, the economic, cultural, and social value created by creative networks is often overshadowed by other challenges including a lack of funding and a lack of understanding from policy makers or the public.
Sustainability and Digital Teaching Competence in Higher Education
Authors: Colás-Bravo Pilar , Conde-Jiménez Jesús , Reyes-de-Cózar Salvador
Published: November 2021

This article examines the research that explores the relationship between sustainability and digital teaching competence in the university environment, through a qualitative systematic review, which covers 2011 to 2021. It is intended to identify how sustainability is applied in higher education through teaching experiences linked to the use of ICT, where the digital teaching competence is specified and put into practice. In other words, it is about responding to the following questions: What digital skills are being applied to develop educational sustainability in higher education? In which aspects of educational and pedagogical sustainability are they projected? As a work methodology, the PRISMA protocol is applied as the technique of systematic review, using the Scopus and WOS databases as sources of information. Subsequently, a qualitative analysis of the selected articles is carried out using the ATLAS.ti scientific software, using the DigCompEdu model as the basis for the analysis of the information. The results shed light on the panorama of research on digital competence and sustainability and the evolution of scientific production over ten years, as well as the methodology applied in these studies. The DigCompEdu model is found to be useful for registering the modalities of teaching competencies put into practice, manifesting a primacy of pedagogical digital competences over those of professional development and student empowerment. Sustainability development areas are also identified, linked to teaching digital competence, such as inclusion, educational quality or lifelong learning.
Youth-Led Climate Change Action: Multi-Level Effects on Children, Families, and Communities
Authors: Trott Carlie D.
Published: November 2021

Empirical studies of children’s climate change action are rare, especially beyond the formal classroom and among pre-teen youth. This mixed-methods study examined the multi-level impacts of climate action by ten- to twelve-year-olds following an after-school program that used participatory methods to encourage children’s action at household and community levels. Through surveys and focus groups, children reported engaging in a variety of climate-protective actions to reduce their energy use and waste, with some children becoming more physically active as they left behind electronics to play outdoors. Children also provided abundant examples of sharing their climate change knowledge and inspiring action among family and friends, as well as being influential in school and community settings. Findings of the present study shed light on the importance of action opportunities in climate change educational settings, not only for children’s mental and physical health, but for its transformative potential through children’s intra- and intergenerational influence.
Prediction Models Founded on Soil Characteristics for the Estimated Uptake of Nine Metals by Okra Plant, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench., Cultivated in Agricultural Soils Modified with Varying Sewage Sludge Concentrations
Authors: Eid Ebrahem M. , Shaltout Kamal H. , Alamri Saad A. M. , Alrumman Sulaiman A. , Sewelam Nasser , Taher Mostafa A. , Hashem Mohamed , Mostafa Yasser S. , Ahmed Mohamed T.
Published: November 2021

Prediction models were developed to estimate the extent to which the metals Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were taken up by the fruits, the leaves, the stems, and the roots of the okra plant, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench., grown under greenhouse conditions in soil modified with a spectrum of sewage sludge concentrations: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/kg. All the metals under investigation, apart from Cd, were more concentrated in the A. esculentus roots than in any other organ. Overall, the sum of the metal concentration (mg/kg) within the varying plant tissues can be ranked in the following order: roots (13,795.5) > leaves (1252.7) > fruits (489.3) > stems (469.6). For five of the metals (i.e., Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, and Pb), the BCF was <1; for the remaining four metals, the BCF was >1, (i.e., Cr, 1.074; Cu, 1.347; Ni, 1.576; and Zn, 1.031). The metal BCFs were negatively correlated with the pH of the soil and positively correlated with soil OM content. The above-ground tissues exhibited a TF < 1 for all metals, apart from Cd with respect to the leaves (2.003) and the fruits (2.489), and with the exception of Mn in relation to the leaves (1.149). Further positive associations were demonstrated for the concentrations of all the metals in each examined plant tissue and the corresponding soil metal concentration. The tissue uptakes of the nine metals were negatively correlated with soil pH, but positively associated with the OM content in the soil. The generated models showed high performance accuracy; students’ t-tests indicated that any differences between the measured and forecasted concentrations of the nine metals within the four tissue types of A. esculentus failed to reach significance. It can, therefore, be surmised that the prediction models described in the current research form a feasible method with which to determine the safety and risk to human health when cultivating the tested species in soils modified with sewage sludge.
Antecedents and Consequences of Trust and Loyalty in Physical Banks Affecting Mobile Payments
Authors: Su Bo-Chiuan , Wu Li-Wei , Yen Ying-Chi
Published: November 2021

The way of payment has changed in recent years: people have turned away from physical payment methods to virtual payment methods. The traditional banking industry is facing challenges brought by new technologies. The main purpose of this study is to investigate customer trust and loyalty transferring from physical banks to mobile payments because mobile payment platforms are a self-service technology. The goal is to create an eco-platform to facilitate transition from a cash-based economy to a cashless economy. This study is the first attempt to integrate platform management, electronic marketing (online trust and online loyalty), and relationship marketing (offline trust and offline loyalty) into one model. We theoretically and empirically take certain factors into consideration to further explore the transfer impact of physical to mobile payments, which is not discussed in literature. The SEM (structural equation modelling) analysis from the 353 respondents in this study found that trust from both the physical and mobile contexts has positively influenced loyalty. Additionally, customers’ trust and loyalty transfer from the physical to the mobile environment has had a significantly positive effect between the physical and mobile environment. Corporate reputation and structure assurance have also significantly positively affected physical trust and mobile trust, respectively. The findings also reveal that the structure assurance plays an essential role in mobile payment. Users may have certain concerns about the procedure of transactions and their personal information. Theoretical and practical implications are provided.
Migration and Health—Freedom of Movement and Social Benefits for Chinese Migrant Workers
Authors: Qiu Fengxian , Liu Jing , Zhan Heying Jenny
Published: November 2021

This study utilized the concept of social right to understand factors affecting migrant workers’ health and healthcare in China. Using mixed methods, this study integrated findings from a survey of 817 migrant workers and a follow-up study of 30 intensive interviews to present an in-depth understanding of cumulative disadvantage of health and healthcare of rural-to-urban migrant workers. Our quantitative results indicated that migrant workers with no more than 5 years of working experience and having a good relationship with employers were 65% and 72.8% more likely to report good self-rated health as compared to their counterparts; those with work-related injury experience and low income were 41.6% and 53.6% less likely to report good self-rated health. Qualitative findings revealed the social contexts of the cumulative effect of the length of work experience and fear of medical cost on migrant workers’ declining health. Even though the participation rate for health insurance in China is reported to be over 99%, the lack of portability in health insurance and different reimbursement rates in health care access are structural barriers in health-seeking behaviors among Chinese migrant workers and in establishing sustainability in China’s healthcare system. This study adds to the literature by delineating the process of the unequal access to social rights in general, healthcare in particular as the major explanation for migrant workers’ poor health beyond the surface of China’s universal healthcare.
Sustainable Electric Vehicle Transportation
Authors: Kene Raymond , Olwal Thomas , van Wyk Barend J.
Published: November 2021

The future direction of electric vehicle (EV) transportation in relation to the energy demand for charging EVs needs a more sustainable roadmap, compared to the current reliance on the centralised electricity grid system. It is common knowledge that the current state of electricity grids in the biggest economies of the world today suffer a perennial problem of power losses; and were not designed for the uptake and integration of the growing number of large-scale EV charging power demands from the grids. To promote sustainable EV transportation, this study aims to review the current state of research and development around this field. This study is significant to the effect that it accomplishes four major objectives. (1) First, the implication of large-scale EV integration to the electricity grid is assessed by looking at the impact on the distribution network. (2) Secondly, it provides energy management strategies for optimizing plug-in EVs load demand on the electricity distribution network. (3) It provides a clear direction and an overview on sustainable EV charging infrastructure, which is highlighted as one of the key factors that enables the promotion and sustainability of the EV market and transportation sector, re-engineered to support the United Nations Climate Change Agenda. Finally, a conclusion is made with some policy recommendations provided for the promotion of the electric vehicle market and widespread adoption in any economy of the world.