bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical Profiling, and Antioxidant Potentials of South African and Nigerian Loranthus micranthus Linn.: The African Mistletoe Exposé
Authors: Hlophe Siyabonga , Bassey Kokoette
Published: May 2023

Loranthus micranthus Linn. (Loranthaceae) is a botanically significant hemiparasite that grows on tree branches or trunks and is used in traditional medicine. This study compares the antioxidant activity and qualitative phytochemical screening of Nigerian and South Africa Loranthus micranthus Linn. Standard techniques for phytochemical screening were deployed while thin layer chromatography (TLC) bio-autography was utilized to analyze antioxidants qualitatively. Quantitative antioxidant analysis was performed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH); hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) free-radical scavenging; and ferric chloride reducing power. The results of qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids; glycosides; saponins; phenolic compounds; phlobatannins; tannins; and terpenoids. As for the antioxidant potentials of the four extracts—i.e., Nigerian dichloromethane (NGDCM); South African dichloromethane (SADCM); Nigerian methanol (NGMeOH); and South African methanol (SAMeOH)—the SADCM extract had more creamy bands compared to the Nigerian, thus indicating potentially more antioxidant compounds. A better complementary antioxidant potential was observed for the Nigerian methanol extracts over their South African counterparts. The DPPH quantitative analyses underpin that the SADCM exhibited greater scavenging activity compared to the NGDCM, but this was less than the gallic acid control, with the highest activity at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL, respectively. However, as the concentration increased from 0.6 to 1.0 mg/mL, the SADCM again dominated in its antioxidant potential over all the analytes. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values obtained were [SADCM = 0.31 mg/mL, NGDCM = 0.51 mg/mL, SAMeOH = 0.51 mg/mL, NGMeO = 0.17, gallic acid = 1.17 mg/mL, and BHT = 1.47 Mg/mL)]. Both the H2O2 scavenging and the Fe3+ to Fe2+ reduction assays mirrored a similar trend in the antioxidant potentials of all the analytes except for the BHT, which performed better in the ferric chloride reduction assay at a concentration of 0.2–06 mg/mL. Based on the facts gathered, it can be inferred that the South African and Nigerian Loranthus micranthus Linn. are chemically equivalent. This is in support of their similar morphology and taxonomical classification, notwithstanding the environmental, biological, and edaphic impacts experienced by each plant.
Population-Based Evidence of Climate Change Adaptation in an Endangered Plant Endemic to a Biodiversity Hotspot
Authors: Alarcón Diego , Santos David , Arroyo Mary T. K.
Published: May 2023

Climate change is expected to impact both the population structure and geographic distribution of plants. Species distribution models are widely used to assess range shifts and the vulnerability of plants to climate change. Despite the abundance of modeling studies, little is known about how existing populations respond to climate change. We investigated the demographic structure and vulnerability to climate change in Anemone moorei, a sub-shrub with a highly restricted distribution in a biodiversity hotspot. We improved the distribution knowledge through intensive field work. We conducted a census of stem length as a proxy for age for all known populations. We used ensemble forecasting to project distributions considering 10 future climate scenarios and developed a novel climate change vulnerability index for the species’ distribution. We found that the mean stem length decreases and the proportion of young plants increases, while the size of fruiting plants decreases as A. moorei faces greater climate change vulnerability. We interpret these results as evidence for the onset of recent adaptation to climate change, consisting of reduced adult longevity and an earlier onset of reproduction. As a result of these changes, the proportion of juveniles in the population increases.
Inoculation with Actinobacteria spp. Isolated from a Hyper-Arid Environment Enhances Tolerance to Salinity in Lettuce Plants (Lactuca sativa L.)
Authors: González Felipe , Santander Christian , Ruiz Antonieta , Pérez Rodrigo , Moreira Jorge , Vidal Gladys , Aroca Ricardo , Santos Cledir , Cornejo Pablo
Published: May 2023

Irrigated agriculture is responsible for a third of global agricultural production, but the overuse of water resources and intensification of farming practices threaten its sustainability. The use of saline water in irrigation has become an alternative in areas subjected to frequent drought, but this practice affects plant growth due to osmotic impact and excess of ions. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can mitigate the negative impacts of salinity and other abiotic factors on crop yields. Actinobacteria from the hyper-arid Atacama Desert could increase the plant tolerance to salinity, allowing their use as biofertilizers for lettuce crops using waters with high salt contents. In this work, rhizosphere samples of halophytic Metharme lanata were obtained from Atacama Desert, and actinobacteria were isolated and identified by 16S gene sequencing. The PGPR activities of phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and the production of siderophore and auxin were assessed at increasing concentrations of NaCl, as well as the enhancement of salt tolerance in lettuce plants irrigated with 100 mM of NaCl. Photosynthesis activity and chlorophyll content, proline content, lipid peroxidation, cation and P concentration, and the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds were assessed. The strains S. niveoruber ATMLC132021 and S. lienomycini ATMLC122021 were positive for nitrogen fixation and P solubilization activities and produced auxin up to 200 mM NaCl. In lettuce plants, both strains were able to improve salt stress tolerance by increasing proline contents, carotenoids, chlorophyll, water use efficiency (WUE), stomatal conductance (gs), and net photosynthesis (A), concomitantly with the overproduction of the phenolic compound dicaffeoylquinic acid. All these traits were positively correlated with the biomass production under saltwater irrigation, suggesting its possible use as bioinoculants for the agriculture in areas where the water resources are scarce and usually with high salt concentrations.
Transcriptome Sequencing of Agave amaniensis Reveals Shoot-Related Expression Patterns of Expansin A Genes in Agave
Authors: Wang Xuxia , Huang Xing , Chen Lisha , Xie Zhouli , Tan Shibei , Qin Xu , Chen Tao , Huang Yanlei , Xi Jingen , Chen Helong , Yi Kexian
Published: May 2023

Agave species are widely planted for fiber production. However, the molecular basis of agave fiber development has not been well understood. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic analysis in A. amaniensi, a well-known variety with high-quality fiber production. Approximately 43.87 million clean reads were obtained using Illumina sequencing. The de novo assembly produced 66,746 unigrams, 54% of which were annotated in a public database. In the Nr database, 21,490 unigenes of A. amaniensis were shown to be most closely related to Asparagus officinalis. Nine expansin A orthologs with full coding regions were obtained, which were named EXP1a, EXP1b, EXP2, EXP3, EXP4a, EXP4b, EXP11, EXP12, and EXP13. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree revealed the species-specific expansion of expansin genes in Arabidopsis, rice and agave. The expression analysis suggested the negative correlation between the expression of expansin genes and the leaf growth rate, except AhEXP11. Moreover, expansin genes were differentially affected by abiotic and biotic stresses. Notably, AhEXP2 expression level was highly upgraded after the infection of Phytophthora nicotiana. Nutrient deficiency also influent expansin genes expression. Together, our research will benefit future studies related to fiber development, disease resistance and nutrient usage in agave.
Argentatin Content in Guayule Leaves (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray)
Authors: García-Martínez María Mercedes , Gallego Beatriz , Latorre Guayente , Carrión María Engracia , De la Cruz-Morcillo Miguel Ángel , Zalacain Amaya , Carmona Manuel
Published: May 2023

Approximately one-third of the waste biomass from the cultivation of guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) for natural rubber production is leaf tissue; however, whether it can be valorized is not known. Guayulins and argentatins are potential high-value products that can be recovered from guayule resin during rubber/latex processing. Argentatins are highly abundant in guayule stem resin; however, unlike the guayulins, their occurrence in leaves has not been investigated. The present study determined the content of argentatins and isoargentatins A and B in the leaves of a pure guayule accession (R1040) and two hybrids (CAL-1 and AZ-2) under conditions of irrigation and non-irrigation. The resin content in leaves was ~10%, which provides a suitable starting point for economic exploitation. The highest production of argentatins occurred in plants under irrigation, with yields of 4.2 and 3.6 kg ha−1 for R1040 and AZ-2, respectively. The R1040 accession had the highest percentage of resin and the greatest total argentatin content (24.5 g kg−1 dried leaf), principally due to the abundance of argentatin A. Contrastingly, CAL-1 consistently showed the lowest argentatin content based on dried leaf weight and production (0.6 kg ha−1). The substantial abundance of argentatins in guayule leaves suggests the potential for future exploitation.
Evaluating the Potential of Boswellia rivae to Provide Sustainable Livelihood Benefits in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: DeCarlo Anjanette , Johnson Stephen , Abdikadir Abdinasir , Satyal Prabodh , Poudel Ambika , Setzer William N.
Published: May 2023

Frankincense is an oleo-gum-resin collected from wild Boswellia spp. trees, and widely used in perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, incense, and other industries. Boswellia rivae, growing in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, is one source of frankincense, but is little-commercialized compared to species such as B. sacra, B. frereana, and B. papyrifera. In this study, we examine the resin essential oil chemistry and harvesting systems of B. rivae in order to evaluate its potential for increased trade and potential positive livelihood benefits. Boswellia rivae produces an essential oil rich in α-thujene (0.1–12.4%), α-pinene (5.5–56.4%), β-pinene (0.3–13.0%), δ-3-carene (0.1–31.5%), p-cymene (1.4–31.2%), limonene (1.8–37.3%), β-phellandrene (tr-5.6%), trans-pinocarveol (0.1–5.0%), trans-verbenol (0.1–11.2%), and trans-β-elemene (0–5.7%), similar to major commercial species, although it is difficult to detect mixing of B. rivae and Commiphora africana resins from chemistry alone. The B. rivae trees are not actively tapped, so resin collection has a neutral impact on the health of the trees, and resin production is unaffected by drought. Consequently, collecting resins acts as a key income supplementing livestock herding, as well as a safety net protecting pastoral communities from the severe negative effects of climate change-exacerbated drought on livestock. Therefore, Boswellia rivae is well positioned chemically, ecologically, and socially to support expanded trade.
Vitamin E and A Availability in Goose Embryos and Goslings and Improvement of Reproduction Traits Depending on the Starting Temperature Regime of Egg Incubation
Authors: Ionov Igor A. , Katerinich Oleg O. , Kuchmistov Viktor O. , Anisimova Olga V. , Griffin Darren K. , Romanov Michael N. , Zhukova Irina O.
Published: May 2023

One of the major problems impeding the sustainable development of goose production is low egg hatchability. Thus, it is imperative to develop more efficient ways to improve the hatching qualities of goose eggs. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of changes in the temperature regime of incubation on the availability of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol), as well as important elements of antioxidant protection in embryos and goslings. The initial heating of eggs at temperatures of 39 and 39.5 °C during the first 24 or 36 h was used as the main factor influencing goose embryo development. The dynamics in the content of antioxidant retinol and α-tocopherol were analyzed in the liver of embryos and goslings (up to 9 days of age) using the standard regime of incubation (at 38 °C) and the prior heating of eggs (at 39 °C and 39.5 °C) in the first 24 and 36 h of incubation. The obtained results provided new information about the effect of the initial heating of eggs on the function of antioxidants in the gosling’s body. It was confirmed that the age-related changes of retinol and α-tocopherol levels in goslings are similar to those found in chicks, ducklings, and turkey-poults. In addition, the effect of an egg’s weight on hatchability was established, with the hatchability of eggs in the medium weight class being higher than that of smaller and larger eggs. The efficiency of the redistribution of retinol from the yolk to the liver in day-old goslings was higher by 6% when exposing eggs to a temperature of 39.5 °C for 36 h. The initial heating regime at 39.5 °C led to an increased hatch of goslings, and to the evenness of their hatch from eggs of different weights, approaching the hatch values of the medium class. Overall, the α-tocopherol concentration in the liver of embryos and goslings, using the starting heating of eggs, was higher than that with the standard temperature mode of incubation. At the same time, the hatch rate of goslings increased by 9–13%, and the hatchability of eggs by 10–16%. For use in the practice of hatcheries and breeding poultry farms, it is recommended that goose eggs are heated for 36 h at 39.5 °C.
Signal-to-Image: Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Using ResNet Family Deep-Learning Models
Authors: Wu Guoguo , Ji Xuerong , Yang Guolai , Jia Ye , Cao Chuanchuan
Published: May 2023

Rolling element bearings (REBs) are the most frequent cause of machine breakdowns. Traditional methods for fault diagnosis in rolling bearings rely on feature extraction and signal processing techniques. However, these methods can be affected by the complexity of the underlying patterns and the need for expert knowledge during signal analysis. This paper proposes a novel signal-to-image method in which the raw signal data are transformed into 2D images using continuous wavelet transform (CWT). This transformation enhances the features extracted from the raw data, allowing for further analysis and interpretation. Transformed images of both normal and faulty rolling bearings from the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) dataset were used with deep-learning models from the ResNet family. They can automatically learn and identify patterns in raw vibration signals after continuous wavelet transform is used, eliminating the need for manual feature extraction. To further improve the training results, squeeze-and-excitation networks (SENets) were added to improve the process. By comparing results obtained from several models, we found that SE-ResNet152 has the best performance for REB fault diagnosis.
Study on the Optimal Double-Layer Electrode for a Non-Aqueous Vanadium-Iron Redox Flow Battery Using a Machine Learning Model Coupled with Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Ma Qiang , Fu Wenxuan , Xu Jinhua , Wang Zhiqiang , Xu Qian
Published: May 2023

To boost the operational performance of a non-aqueous DES electrolyte-based vanadium-iron redox flow battery (RFB), our previous work proposed a double-layer porous electrode spliced by carbon paper and graphite felt. However, this electrode’s architecture still needs to be further optimized under different operational conditions. Hence, this paper proposes a multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict the relationship between vanadium-iron RFB’s performance and double-layer electrode structural characteristics. A training dataset of ANN is generated by three-dimensional finite-element numerical simulations of the galvanostatic discharging process. In addition, a genetic algorithm (GA) is coupled to an ANN regression training process for optimizing the model parameters to elevate the accuracy of ANN prediction. The novelty of this work lies in this modified optimal method of a double-layer electrode for non-aqueous RFB driven by a machine learning (ML) model coupled with GA. The comparative result shows that the ML model reaches a satisfactory predictive accuracy, and the mean square error of this model is lower than other popular ML regression models. Based on the known region of operating conditions, the obtained results prove that this well-trained ML algorithm can be used to estimate whether a double-layer electrode should be applied to a non-aqueous vanadium-iron RFB and determine an appropriate thickness ratio for this double-layer electrode.
Nondestructive Technique for Identifying Adulteration and Additives in Lemon Juice Based on Analyzing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Authors: Mohammadian Nasim , Ziaiifar Aman Mohammad , Mirzaee-Ghaleh Esmaeil , Kashaninejad Mahdi , Karami Hamed
Published: May 2023

In light of the frequent occurrence of counterfeit food sold in global commercial markets, it is necessary to verify the authenticity of tasty natural-plant-based products by checking their labels, as well as their pricing and quality control. Lemon juice has repeatedly been the victim of fraud attempts by manufacturers to lower the price of products. Electronic noses are used in many fields, including the beverage industry, for classification and quality control. This involves the detection and differentiation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from food. This study evaluated pure lemon juice and 11 counterfeit samples (water, lemon pulp, and wheat straw) using an electronic nose equipped with 8 metal oxide sensors to detect fraud. Chemometric methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear and quadratic analysis (LDA), support vector machines (SVMs), and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to analyze the response patterns of the sensors. The outputs of eight sensors were considered as the input of the model and the number of lemon juice groups, and its adulterations were also considered as the output of the model. Of the total data, 60% (for training), 20% (for validation), and 20% (for testing) were used. According to the results, all models had an accuracy of more than 95%, and the Nu-SVM linear function method had the highest accuracy among all models. Hence, it can be concluded that the electronic nose based on metal oxide semiconductor sensors combined with chemometric methods can be an effective tool with high efficiency for rapid and nondestructive classification of pure lemon juice and its counterfeits.
Research on the Characteristics and Kinetics of the Pyrolysis Process and Products Generation of Jimsar (China) Oil Shale Using TG-FTIR
Authors: Lu Hao , Pan Luwei , Chen Pingan , Liu Ting
Published: May 2023

The characteristics and kinetics of the pyrolysis process and product generation from Jimsar oil shale were investigated using the thermogravimetry–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) coupling technique. The results showed that the pyrolysis of oil shale had different reaction mechanisms in different conversion rate ranges (αP = 0–0.2, 0.2–0.6, 0.6–1). The pyrolyzed heating rate mainly affected the reaction mechanism in the range αP = 0.6–1. The released gaseous products were mainly composed of small-molecule compounds (CO2, SO2, CO, CH4), aliphatic (–CH2, –CH3), aromatic (C=C), and O–H functional groups. The generation models of C=C, –CH2, –CH3, CH4, CO, and CO2 derived in the temperature range of 573.15–873.15 K are all chemical reaction models, while the generation models of CO and CO2 derived in the range of 873.15–1073.15 K are both diffusion models. The relative values and variation in the thermodynamic parameters corresponded with that of the activation energy for the evolved components, representing the energy requirement during the generation process.
Integration of Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles in Power Systems: A Review
Authors: Manousakis Nikolaos M. , Karagiannopoulos Panagiotis S. , Tsekouras George J. , Kanellos Fotios D.
Published: May 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a promising green technology for mitigating environmental impacts. However, their widespread adoption has significant implications for management, monitoring, and control of power systems. The integration of renewable energy sources (RESs), commonly referred to as green energy sources or alternative energy sources, into the network infrastructure is a sustainable and effective approach to addressing these matters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the integration of RESs and EVs into power systems. The bibliographic analysis revealed that IEEE Access had the highest impact among journals. In order to enhance the classification of the reviewed literature, we have provided an analytical summary of the contributions made by each paper. The categorization facilitated the recognition of the primary objectives explored in the reviewed works, including the classification of EVs and RESs, the incorporation of RESs and EVs into power systems with an emphasis on emissions, the establishment of EV charging stations and parking facilities, EV batteries and battery energy storage systems, strategies for managing the integration of RESs with EVs, EV aggregators, and the financial implications. In order to provide researchers with a valuable synopsis of the implementation particulars, the papers were bifurcated into two primary classifications, namely mathematical algorithms and heuristic algorithms. The mixed integer linear programming algorithm and particle swarm optimization algorithm were commonly utilized formulations in optimization. MATLAB/Simulink was the primary platform used for executing a considerable portion of these algorithms, with CPLEX being the dominant optimization tool. Finally, this study offers avenues for further discourse and investigation regarding areas of research that remain unexplored.
The Impact of Formation Anisotropy and Stresses on Fractural Geometry—A Case Study in Jafurah’s Tuwaiq Mountain Formation (TMF), Saudi Arabia
Authors: Shawaf Ali , Rasouli Vamegh , Dehdouh Abdesselem
Published: May 2023

Multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (MsHF) is the main technology to improve hydrocarbon recovery from shale plays. Associated with their rich organic contents and laminated depositional environments, shales exhibit transverse isotropic (TI) characteristics. In several cases, the lamination planes are horizontal in shale formations with a symmetric axis that are vertical to the bedding plane; hence, shale formations are known as transverse isotropic vertical (TIV) rocks. Ignoring the TIV nature of shale formations leads to erroneous estimates of in situ stresses and consequently to inefficient designs of fractural geometry, which negatively affects the ultimate recovery. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of TIV medium characteristics on fractural geometry, spacing, and stress shadow development in the Jurassic Tuwaiq Mountain formation (TMF) in the Jafurah basin, which is a potential unconventional world-class play. This formation is the main source for prolific Jurassic oil reservoirs in Saudi Arabia. On the basis of a petrophysical evaluation in the Jafurah basin, TMF exhibited exceptional unconventional gas characteristics, such as high total organic content (TOC) and low clay content, and it was in the proper maturity window for oil and gas generation. The unconventional Jafurah field covers a large area that is comparable to the size of the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas, and it is planned for development through multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technology. In this study, analytical modeling was performed to estimate the fractural geometry and in situ stresses in the anisotropic medium. The results show that the Young’s modulus anisotropy had a noticeable impact on fractural width, whereas the impact of Poisson’s ratio was minimal. Moreover, we investigated the impact of stress anisotropy and other rock properties on the stress shadow, and found that a large stress anisotropy could result in fractures being positioned close to one another or theoretically without minimal fractural spacing concerns. Additionally, we estimated the fractural aspect ratio in different propagation regimes and observed that the highest aspect ratio had occurred in the fractural toughness-dominated regime. This study also compares the elastic properties and confirms that TMF exhibited greater anisotropic properties than those of Eagle Ford. These findings have practical implications for field operations, particularly with regard to the fractural geometry and proppant placement.
Impact of Data Grouping on the Multivariate Analysis of Several Concrete Plants
Authors: Perluzzi Malika , Wilson William , Gosselin Ryan
Published: May 2023

Multivariate analysis can be used to study industrial process data exhibiting collinearity between variables. Such data can often be collected into conceptually meaningful groups or blocks. While data blocks may appear intuitive (e.g., raw material properties vs. process parameters), such blocking is sometimes much more subjective. The novelty of this work lies in the investigation of the impact of data blocking on the subsequent analysis. To our knowledge, no such investigation can be found in the literature. To fill this gap, we analyze the impact of grouping data from 10 Canadian concrete plants in which multiple blocking alternatives are considered. The analysis is performed via principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the matrix and also via consensus principal component analysis (CPCA). The data grouping options are as follows: (1) all data combined into a single block, (2) grouped according to the factory, (3) grouped according to parameter type, and (4) grouped according to parameter type within each factory. The results show that the grouping strategy alters the conclusion by emphasizing specific aspects of the data. While some grouping options emphasized seasonal variations, others emphasized other characteristics in the data, such as step changes in processing regimes or the significant impact of the raw materials’ moisture on the process. As such, it appears relevant to consider multiple blocking options when analyzing complex datasets. Doing so will give the analyst a better understanding of overarching trends and more subtle characteristics of the dataset.
Research on Two-Way Contra-Rotating Axial-Flow Pump–Turbine with Various Blade Angles in Pump Mode
Authors: Chen Yiming , An Ce , Zhang Rongyong , Fu Qiang , Zhu Rongsheng
Published: May 2023

In tidal two-way contra-rotating units, significant differences in performance often occur when arranging the front and rear impellers, which requires an optimized design of the impellers. To solve this problem, by reducing the blade inlet and outlet angles, the impact of different blade angles on the performance of two-way pump–turbines and the internal flow was explored, and the effects of the blade inlet angle of the impellers on the performance of the counter-rotating pump were obtained. Afterward, the streamline and vorticity of the two-stage impeller at different angles were analyzed. The results show that different blade angles will have a certain impact on the internal flow of the two-way pump–turbine. Different blade outlet angles have a significant impact. The variation in different inlet blade angles is not significant for the vorticity changes in the front impeller and rear impeller. In addition, changes in the outlet blade angle will have an impact on the location of LE impact water of the rear impeller, which in turn affects the contours of vorticity of the rear impeller near LE, which also means that the vorticity in this area is mainly dominated by the vortex stretching term.
Practical Theology and Social Just Pedagogies as Decoloniality Space
Authors: Klaasen John
Published: May 2023

Higher education institutions in South Africa are still dominated by colonial traditions, course content, staff with colonial privileges and attachments, and discriminatory structures and systems. Practical theology and theologians are no exception. This article seeks to investigate the correlations between social just pedagogies and social justice. Social just pedagogies consider the role of the students, lecturers, and non-human phenomena as contributing to epistemology and agency formation. Normative pedagogies remain important criteria for knowledge production and graduate attributes within the South African higher education landscape. Within practical theology, the pedagogies that are used to form students and impart knowledge are still dominated by classical teaching methods that are power-centred and biased towards the privileged. The aim of this article is thus not to replace the normative pedagogies but to challenge the normativity and essentialism that has characterised colonial, race-related, and top-down knowledge production. I will introduce a social just pedagogy of teaching practical theology that critically engages and challenges the privileged normative position of classical practical theology. A social just pedagogy will bring the centre of learning and teaching into the structure of the lecture room, a participatory method of knowledge production, students, and the lecturers. The hierarchical structure of the South African university system will be engaged with as an instrument of traditional classical knowledge production systems. Teaching practical theology through social just pedagogies will also contribute to social justice within democratic South Africa. The question that I will address is how teaching practical theology at higher education institutions can contribute to the agency of social justice in South Africa.
Reconstruct(ing) a Hidden History: Black Deaf Canadian Relat(ing) Identity
Authors: Rouse Jenelle , Palmer Amelia , Parsons Amy
Published: May 2023

Black Deaf Canadians are under-represented in every facet of life. Black Deaf Canadian excellence, history, culture, and language are under-documented and under-reported. Where are we in history? Where are we now? Why are we not being documented? Black Deaf Canada was established to address these long-standing issues and went on to create an independent research team that led a project called “Black Deaf History in Canada”. This article provides an early account of how the community-based research team conducted a relationship-building practice prior to and during a three-week research trip. Black Deaf Canadians’ relat(ing) experience in history has inspired us to fight for inclusivity.
Examining the Relationship between Environmental Education and Pro-Environmental Behavior in Regular Basic Education Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Estrada-Araoz Edwin Gustavo , Gallegos Ramos Néstor Antonio , Paredes Valverde Yolanda , Quispe Herrera Rosel , Mori Bazán Jaime
Published: May 2023

In recent decades, a series of environmental problems such as pollution, climate change and the loss of biodiversity are being perceived. Given this context, the need to implement strategies arises, such as environmental education, to mitigate the mentioned problems. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine if environmental education is related to the pro-environmental behavior of regular basic education students in the Peruvian Amazon. The research approach was quantitative, the design was non-experimental, and the scope was cross-sectional correlational. The sample was obtained of 293 students of the seventh cycle of regular basic education who were administered the Environmental Education Questionnaire and the Environmental Behavior Questionnaire, instruments with adequate metric properties. According to the results, the students were characterized by perceiving that the environmental education that was implemented in the educational institutions was partially adequate. Similarly, pro-environmental behavior was found to be unusual. On the other hand, it was found that the Pearson correlation coefficient between both variables was 0.877, and the p-value was below the significance level (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there is a direct and significant relationship between environmental education and the pro-environmental behavior of regular basic education students in the Peruvian Amazon.
Interval-Censored Regression with Non-Proportional Hazards with Applications
Authors: Prataviera Fábio , Hashimoto Elizabeth M. , Ortega Edwin M. M. , Savian Taciana V. , Cordeiro Gauss M.
Published: May 2023

Proportional hazards models and, in some situations, accelerated failure time models, are not suitable for analyzing data when the failure ratio between two individuals is not constant. We present a Weibull accelerated failure time model with covariables on the location and scale parameters. By considering the effects of covariables not only on the location parameter, but also on the scale, a regression should be able to adequately describe the difference between treatments. In addition, the deviance residuals adapted for data with the interval censored and the exact time of failure proved to be satisfactory to verify the fit of the model. This information favors the Weibull regression as an alternative to the proportional hazards models without masking the effect of the explanatory variables.
Feasibility Study of Low-Environmental-Load Methods for Treating High-Water-Content Waste Dredged Clay (WDC)—A Case Study of WDC Treatment at Kumamoto Prefecture Ohkirihata Reservoir in Japan
Authors: Zhang Zichen , Li Cui , Omine Kiyoshi , Li Jiageng , Flemmy Samuel Oye
Published: May 2023

The effective and sustainable treatment of high-water-content waste dredged clay (WDC) remains a significant challenge in water conservancy engineering. In this study, we focused on the treatment of WDC produced by Kumamoto Ohkirihata Reservoir. The study examined the effect of two types of cement-based solidifiers, namely, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and cement–fly ash agent (DF), on three clay samples collected from different locations. The cone index test was used to assess the samples’ properties. The dosage of cement required for effective improvement with DF was significantly reduced (by about 47–55%), compared to OPC. Moreover, the dewatering efficiency of WDC improved by the simple dewatering method of vertically placing environmental protection materials. Within seven days, the average water content of the WDC decreased to below the liquid limit compared with natural air drying. Finally, the dosage of DF required to stabilize the WDC under effective improvement conditions was reduced by 37–58%, which is higher than the dosage of OPC reduction (22–50%). The reduction in water content reduced the pore space of the soil particles, benefiting the internal bonding of DF-stabilized clay. Dewatering methods facilitate the use of DF solidifiers, facilitating sustainable and environmentally friendly improvement in WDC.
Drug Discovery for Periodontitis Treatment Based on Big Data Mining, Systems Biology, and Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Wang Chun-Tse , Chen Bor-Sen
Published: May 2023

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory oral condition triggered by bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotic organisms, is a well-known and widespread disease around the world. While there are effective treatments for periodontitis, there are also several shortcomings associated with its management, including limited treatment options, the risk of recurrence, and the high cost of treatment. Our goal is to develop a more efficient, systematic drug design for periodontitis before clinical trials. We work on systems drug discovery and design for periodontitis treatment via systems biology and deep learning methods. We first applied big database mining to build a candidate genome-wide genetic and epigenetic network (GWGEN), which includes a protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) and a gene regulatory network (GRN) for periodontitis and healthy control. Next, based on the unhealthy and healthy microarray data, we applied system identification and system order detection methods to remove false positives in candidate GWGENs to obtain real GWGENs for periodontitis and healthy control, respectively. After the real GWGENs were obtained, we picked out the core GWGENs based on how significant the proteins and genes were via the principal network projection (PNP) method. Finally, referring to the annotation of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, we built up the core signaling pathways of periodontitis and healthy control. Consequently, we investigated the pathogenic mechanism of periodontitis by comparing their core signaling pathways. By checking up on the downstream core signaling pathway and the corresponding cellular dysfunctions of periodontitis, we identified the fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 Transcription Factor Subunit (FOS), TSC Complex Subunit 2 (TSC2), Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1), and nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) as significant biomarkers on which we could find candidate molecular drugs to target. To achieve our ultimate goal of designing a combination of molecular drugs for periodontitis treatment, a deep neural network (DNN)-based drug-target interaction (DTI) model was employed. The model is trained with the existing drug-target interaction databases for the prediction of candidate molecular drugs for significant biomarkers. Finally, we filter out brucine, disulfiram, verapamil, and PK-11195 as potential molecular drugs to be combined as a multiple-molecular drug to target the significant biomarkers based on drug design specifications, i.e., adequate drug regulation ability, high sensitivity, and low toxicity. In conclusion, we investigated the pathogenic mechanism of periodontitis by leveraging systems biology methods and thoroughly developed a therapeutic option for periodontitis treatment via the prediction of a DNN-based DTI model and drug design specifications.
Highly Specialized Textiles with Antimicrobial Functionality—Advances and Challenges
Authors: Tanasa Fulga , Teaca Carmen-Alice , Nechifor Marioara , Ignat Maurusa , Duceac Ioana Alexandra , Ignat Leonard
Published: May 2023

Textiles with antimicrobial functionality have been intensively and extensively investigated in the recent decades, mostly because they are present in everyday life in various applications: medicine and healthcare, sportswear, clothing and footwear, furniture and upholstery, air and water purification systems, food packaging etc. Their ability to kill or limit the growth of the microbial population in a certain context defines their activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and even against the initial formation of the biofilm prior to microorganisms’ proliferation. Various classes of antimicrobials have been employed for these highly specialized textiles, namely, organic synthetic reagents and polymers, metals and metal oxides (micro- and nanoparticles), and natural and naturally derived compounds, and their activity and range of applications are critically assessed. At the same time, different modern processing techniques are reviewed in relation to their applications. This paper focuses on some advances and challenges in the field of antimicrobial textiles given their practical importance as it appears from the most recent reports in the literature.
The Influence of Recommendation of Medical and Non-Medical Authorities on the Decision to Vaccinate against Influenza from a Social Vaccinology Perspective: Cross-Sectional, Representative Study of Polish Society
Authors: Sobierajski Tomasz , Rzymski Piotr , Wanke-Rytt Monika
Published: May 2023

Vaccination against seasonal flu is crucial to prevention of illness in modern societies. The level of influenza vaccination in Poland is low and, for many years, has hovered around a few percent of the general population. For this reason, it is crucial to understand the reasons for such a low level of vaccination and to assess the influence of medical and social authorities on the decision to vaccinate against influenza from the perspective of social vaccinology. For this purpose, a representative survey was conducted in 2022 among adult Poles (N = 805), orchestrated with the CAWI technique based on the author’s questionnaire. The most significant authority in the context of influenza vaccination is held by physicians, especially among the oldest part of the population, over 65 years of age—in this group, 50.4% of respondents declare a very high level of respect for physicians on the issue of recommended influenza vaccination (p < 0.001), and the second-highest authority group for which seniors have respect in the aspect of influenza vaccination is pharmacists (p = 0.011). It was also shown that pharmacists have more authority on the issue of influenza vaccination than nurses, especially in the group that declared themselves opponents of vaccination (p < 0.001). The survey indicates the need to strengthen the authority of physicians and pharmacists regarding influenza vaccination, and, in the case of pharmacists, the need for changing the law to allow them to qualify for influenza vaccination.
Evaluation of IL-35, as a Possible Biomarker for Follow-Up after Therapy, in Chronic Human Schistosoma Infection
Authors: Marascio Nadia , Loria Maria Teresa , Pavia Grazia , Peronace Cinzia , Adams Neill James , Campolo Morena , Divenuto Francesca , Lamberti Angelo Giuseppe , Giancotti Aida , Barreca Giorgio Settimo , Mazzitelli Maria , Trecarichi Enrico Maria , Torti Carlo , Perandin Francesca , Bisoffi Zeno , Quirino Angela , Matera Giovanni
Published: May 2023

The host response to helminth infections is characterized by systemic and tissue-related immune responses that play a crucial role in pathological diseases. Recently, experimental studies have highlighted the role of regulatory T (Tregs) and B (Bregs) cells with secreted cytokines as important markers in anti-schistosomiasis immunity. We investigated the serical levels of five cytokines (TNFα, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-35) in pre- and post-treatment samples from chronic Schistosoma infected patients to identify potential serological markers during follow-up therapy. Interestingly, we highlighted an increased serum level of IL-35 in the pre-therapy samples (median 439 pg/mL for Schistosoma haematobium and 100.5 pg/mL for Schistsoma mansoni infected patients) compared to a control group (median 62 pg/mL and 58 pg/mL, respectively, p ≤ 0.05), and a significantly lower concentration in post-therapy samples (181 pg/mL for S. haematobium and 49.5 pg/mL for S. mansoni infected patients, p ≤ 0.05). The present study suggests the possible role of IL-35 as a novel serological biomarker in the evaluation of Schistosoma therapy follow-up.
Colostrum Composition, Characteristics and Management for Buffalo Calves: A Review
Authors: Lotito Daria , Pacifico Eleonora , Matuozzo Sara , Musco Nadia , Iommelli Piera , Zicarelli Fabio , Tudisco Raffaella , Infascelli Federico , Lombardi Pietro
Published: May 2023

In this review, the composition, characteristics, and management of dairy buffalo calves were examined and compared with bovines. The neonatal period is critical for buffalo calves and is characterized by a high mortality rate (more than 40%). The early intake of high-quality colostrum (IgG > 50 mg/mL) is the one way to improve the immune system of calves (serum IgG > 10 mg/mL after 12 h), thus increasing their chances of survival. Mainly in intensive farms, the availability of high-quality colostrum is necessary; thus, good quality colostrum is often stored to provide newborn calves which cannot be fed by their mothers. Also, the manipulation of the immunological status of animals through vaccination has been depicted since the quality of colostrum tended to be influenced by vaccination against pathogens. Buffalo breeding is constantly expanding in Italy, mainly thanks to the Mozzarella cheese production that represents the excellence of the “Made in Italy” and is exported worldwide. Indeed, high calf mortality rates directly affect the profitability of the business. For these reasons, the aim of this review was to examine specific research on buffalo colostrum that, compared with other species, are scarce. Improving the knowledge of buffalo colostrum, in terms of characteristics and management, is critical to guarantee buffalo newborns’ health in order to reduce their mortality rate. Importantly, considering the knowledge on cattle valid also for buffalo is a widespread, and often erroneous, habit in several fields, including colostrum feeding. Therefore, the two species were compared in this review.
Membrane Separation in the Nickel-Contaminated Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Lech Magdalena , Gala Oliwia , Helińska Karolina , Kołodzińska Katarzyna , Konczak Hanna , Mroczyński Łukasz , Siarka Eliza
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, electroplating plants are factories that use huge amounts of water in the coating process of anti-corrosion layers. They are required to decrease the heavy metal content to very low values before releasing the post-process water into the aquatic environment. They very often decrease their content using coagulation combined with flocculation. However, these processes are often not effective enough, and the concentration of a given metal does not reach a satisfactory low level. The use of membrane techniques to purify this type of wastewater leads to a reduction in the content of heavy metals, including nickel, to zero values. This allows for not only reducing the negative impact on the aquatic environment but also a step toward more conscious management of water resources—namely, the reuse of water in the electroplating process. The following review not only describes the membrane methods used to treat the wastewater considered, e.g., nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, or electrodialysis, but also shows the directions of development of these processes.
Research on Global Optimal Energy Management Strategy of Agricultural Hybrid Tractor Equipped with CVT
Authors: Zhang Junjiang , Feng Ganghui , Liu Mengnan , Yan Xianghai , Xu Liyou , Shang Chengyan
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a proposed global optimal energy management strategy based on dynamic programming to enhance the energy consumption efficiency of an agricultural hybrid tractor that is equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Firstly, using a diesel-electric parallel agricultural hybrid tractor as the research object, a tractor-rotary tillage coupling dynamics model is constructed. Secondly, with the torque and speed of the motor, the torque and speed of the diesel engine, and the CVT speed ratio as the control variables, the state of charge (SOC) of the power battery as the state variable, and the goal of minimizing the total energy consumption of the whole machine, a global optimal energy management model based on dynamic programming is established. Finally, the field operation measured data is injected into the MATLAB simulation model, and experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the energy management strategy. The results show that compared with the power-following energy management strategy, the proposed energy management strategy can make the diesel engine and electric motor work in the optimal area, and effectively reduce the total cost of energy consumption of the tractor during field operations. Under the condition of rotary tillage, the total cost of energy consumption is decreased by 16.89%.