bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melatonin Affects the Photosynthetic Performance of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seedlings under Cold Stress
Authors: Altaf Muhammad Ahsan , Shu Huangying , Hao Yuanyuan , Mumtaz Muhammad Ali , Lu Xu , Wang Zhiwei
Published: December 2022

Photosynthesis is an important plant metabolic mechanism that improves carbon absorption and crop yield. Photosynthetic efficiency is greatly hampered by cold stress (CS). Melatonin (ME) is a new plant growth regulator that regulates a wide range of abiotic stress responses. However, the molecular mechanism of ME-mediated photosynthetic regulation in cold-stressed plants is not well understood. Our findings suggest that under low-temperature stress (15/5 °C for 7 days), spraying the plant with ME (200 µM) enhanced gas exchange characteristics and the photosynthetic pigment content of pepper seedlings, as well as upregulated their biosynthetic gene expression. Melatonin increased the activity of photosynthetic enzymes (Rubisco and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase) while also enhancing starch, sucrose, soluble sugar, and glucose content under CS conditions. Low-temperature stress significantly decreased the photochemical activity of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI), specifically their maximum quantum efficiency PSII (Fv/Fm) and PSI (Pm). In contrast, ME treatment improved the photochemical activity of PSII and PSI. Furthermore, CS dramatically reduced the actual PSII efficiency (ΦPSII), electron transport rate (ETR) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), while enhancing nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ); however, ME treatment substantially mitigated the effects of CS. Our results clearly show the probable function of ME treatment in mitigating the effects of CS by maintaining photosynthetic performance, which might be beneficial when screening genotypes for CS tolerance.
Monitoring of Structures and Infrastructures by Low-Cost GNSS Receivers
Authors: Caldera Stefano , Barindelli Stefano , Sansò Fernando , Pardi Livia
Published: December 2022

This paper deals with the problem of geodetic monitoring of structures by means of permanent GNSS stations, with a focus on a specific project of monitoring a bridge by a small network of three stations. What is peculiar about this paper is that the stations used are endowed with low-cost GNSS receivers, and the data treated continuously cover a time-span of more than 4 years. The monitoring service GeoGuard, at work on the project, has proved to be reliable in terms of both hardware and software. The results display almost uniform accuracy at less than the 1 mm level for daily adjusted coordinates and at the level of ∼1–2 mm for hourly solutions. After a short review on the basics of positioning by GNSS phase observations, the error of the estimated coordinates is discussed in detail, and a procedure of warning/alarm is described. The experience in terms of hardware and software employed is then presented together with the results, which are mostly displayed in graphical form and with a few tables.
FNNS: An Effective Feedforward Neural Network Scheme with Random Weights for Processing Large-Scale Datasets
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Feng Feng , Huang Tingting
Published: December 2022

The size of datasets is growing exponentially as information technology advances, and it is becoming more and more crucial to provide efficient learning algorithms for neural networks to handle massive amounts of data. Due to their potential for handling huge datasets, feed-forward neural networks with random weights (FNNRWs) have drawn a lot of attention. In this paper, we introduced an efficient feed-forward neural network scheme (FNNS) for processing massive datasets with random weights. The FNNS divides large-scale data into subsets of the same size, and each subset derives the corresponding submodel. According to the activation function, the optimal range of input weights and biases is calculated. The input weight and biases are randomly generated in this range, and the iterative scheme is used to evaluate the output weight. The MNIST dataset was used as the basis for experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm has a promising future in processing massive datasets.
A Controller-Driven Approach for Opportunistic Networking
Authors: de Toro MariaCarmen , Borrego Carlos , Robles Sergi
Published: December 2022

Opportunistic networks (OppNets) leverage opportunistic contacts to flow data across an infrastructure-free network. As of yet, OppNets’ performance depends on applying the most suitable forwarding strategy based on the OppNet typology. On the other hand, software-defined networking (SDN) is a paradigm for wired networks that decouples the control and data planes. The control plane oversees the network to configure the data plane optimally. Our proposal uses SDN-like controllers to build a partial overview of the opportunistic network. The forwarding strategy uses this context information to achieve better network performance. As a use case of our proposal, in the context of an OppNet quota-based forwarding algorithm, we present a controller-driven architecture to tackle the congestion problem. Particularly, the controller-driven architecture uses the context information on the congestion of the network to dynamically determine the message replication limit used by the forwarding algorithm. A simulation based on real and synthetic mobility traces shows that using context information provided by the controller to configure the forwarding protocol increments the delivery ratio and keeps a good latency average and a low overhead compared with the baseline forwarding protocols based on message replication. These results strengthen the benefits of using supervised context information in the forwarding strategy in OppNets.
Effect of Controlled Muscle Activation in a Unilateral Vocal Fold Polyp Setting on Vocal Fold Vibration
Authors: Ji Mingjun , Liu Boquan , Jiang Jack , Hoffman Matthew R. , Lan Jinwei , Fang Jin
Published: December 2022

Unilateral vocal fold polyps can lead to incomplete glottal closure and irregular vocal fold vibration. Depending on polyp size and resulting dysphonia severity, voice therapy or surgery may be recommended. As part of voice therapy, patients may learn how to optimize intrinsic and extrinsic laryngeal muscle use to mitigate benign lesion effects, increase vocal efficiency, and improve voice quality. In this study, we used a low-dimensional mass model with a simulated unilateral vocal fold polyp and varied intra-laryngeal muscle activity to simulate vocal fold vibration across varied conditions. Differing muscle activation has different effects on frequency, periodicity, and intensity. Accordingly, learning how to optimize muscle activity in a unilateral polyp setting may help patients achieve the best possible periodic and most efficiently produced voice in the context of abnormal vocal fold morphology.
Climate-Optimised Intermediate Stop Operations: Mitigation Potential and Differences from Fuel-Optimised Configuration
Authors: Zengerling Zarah Lea , Linke Florian , Weder Christian Martin , Dahlmann Katrin
Published: December 2022

Saving fuel by splitting a flight mission with an intermediate stop for refuelling is described by the concept of intermediate stop operations. This can also be beneficial to the climate impact of aviation, if the flight level and intermediate stop airport are selected accordingly. This study aims to estimate the mitigation potential of an implementation of climate-optimised intermediate stop operations for European long-haul flights and compare it to fuel-optimal operations. For this purpose, fuel consumption and emissions are simulated along four-dimensional trajectories for the selected annual flight plan, and their average temperature response is calculated. A comparison between the reference case and climate-optimised as well as fuel-optimised scenarios shows a significant climate mitigation potential and reveals a shift of trajectories to lower latitudes and altitudes. However, increased flight times and fuel consumption limit implementation from stakeholders’ perspectives.
Shortbread Cookies Enriched with Micronized Oat Husk: Physicochemical and Sensory Properties
Authors: Dziki Dariusz , Lisiecka Katarzyna , Gawlik-Dziki Urszula , Różyło Renata , Krajewska Anna , Cacak-Pietrzak Grażyna
Published: December 2022

Oat (Avena sativa L.) by-products are valuable sources of many bioactive compounds and minerals. This paper aimed to study the possibility of using micronized oat husk (hull) as a partial replacement for wheat flour (at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20%) in shortbread production. The physicochemical and sensory properties of control and enriched cookies were studied. The incorporation of oat husk into shortbread increased the fiber and ash content, and decreased the available carbohydrates in the cookies. The color of the enriched shortbread significantly changed and the total color difference between the control and enriched cookies ranged from 4.76 to 11.00. Moreover, the total phenolics content and antioxidant activity linearly increased with the percentage of husk in the cookie recipe. Importantly, micronized oat husk at a level of 20% had little influence on the sensory acceptability of cookies. However, replacement of wheat flour higher than 10% resulted in a harder texture of cookies and lower scores for this attribute were obtained. To summarize, in this work we showed that micronized oat husk can be a valuable additive for cookie fortification.
Increased Expression of Pain-Related Factors in Structures Adjacent to Pathologic Biceps Long Head Tendons in Patients with Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Kim Yang-Soo , Lee Jae-Jin , Alarishi Fahad , Lee Hyo-Jin
Published: December 2022

Different levels of pain, with various symptoms, are present in patients with rotator cuff tears. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of factors related to pain on the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) and structures adjacent to the LHBT in patients with supraspinatus tears and to compare the differences in order to verify whether the structures are affected by the condition of the LHBT. Forty patients who underwent arthroscopic supraspinatus repair were enrolled. Patients with an intact LHBT were allocated to group 1 and patients with pathologic LHBTs were allocated to group 2. With the acquisition of tissues from the LHBT, anterior capsule, rotator interval, and subacromial bursa, the expressions of protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, P75, S100, and CD34 were analyzed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The gene expression levels of PGP9.5 (p = 0.02), GAP43 (p = 0.03), CGRP (p = 0.007), and CD34 (p = 0.03) from the LHBT were significantly higher in group 2. PGP9.5 (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01), GAP43 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.004), and P75 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02) from the anterior capsule and rotator interval were also significantly higher in group 2. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased expression of pain-related factors in the anterior capsule and rotator interval of group 2. Enhanced expression of pain-related factors in the LHBT, anterior capsule, and rotator interval of patients with pathologic LHBTs suggests that a pathologic LHBT functions as a pain generator itself and adjacent structures can be influenced by the condition of the LHBT.
Laser Scatterometric Device for Inline Measurement of Fat Percentage and the Concentration Level of Large-Scale Impurities in Milk
Authors: Shkirin Alexey V. , Astashev Maxim E. , Ignatenko Dmitry N. , Suyazov Nikolai V. , Vedunova Maria V. , Gudkov Sergey V.
Published: December 2022

A compact laser scatterometric device for determining the fat percentage of milk filling a cylindrical tube has been designed. The device operates by detecting the angular distribution of the scattered radiation of a semiconductor laser using an axial array of photodiodes. We have experimentally found that the light-scattering indicatrix in cow milk has a monotonous dependence on milk fat content. The intensity at side- or forward-scattering angles normalized to the backscattering intensity proves to be a reliable, informative parameter. A polynomial approximation for the calibration curve of fat percentage versus normalized scattering intensity is constructed to enable fat content measurements in the fairly wide range of ~0.01–10%. Furthermore, the intensity at forward scattering angles responds to the presence of large-scale particles in milk. The device was tested in a laminar flow regime at milk flow rates up to 100 mL/s.
Smart Robotic Strategies and Advice for Stock Trading Using Deep Transformer Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Malibari Nadeem , Katib Iyad , Mehmood Rashid
Published: December 2022

The many success stories of reinforcement learning (RL) and deep learning (DL) techniques have raised interest in their use for detecting patterns and generating constant profits from financial markets. In this paper, we combine deep reinforcement learning (DRL) with a transformer network to develop a decision transformer architecture for online trading. We use data from the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), one of the largest liquid stock exchanges globally. Specifically, we use the indices of four firms: Saudi Telecom Company, Al-Rajihi Banking and Investment, Saudi Electricity Company, and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation. To ensure the robustness and risk management of the proposed model, we consider seven reward functions: the Sortino ratio, cumulative returns, annual volatility, omega, the Calmar ratio, max drawdown, and normal reward without any risk adjustments. Our proposed DRL-based model provided the highest average increase in the net worth of Saudi Telecom Company, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, and Al-Rajihi Banking and Investment at 21.54%, 18.54%, 17%, and 19.36%, respectively. The Sortino ratio, cumulative returns, and annual volatility were found to be the best-performing reward functions. This work makes significant contributions to trading regarding long-term investment and profit goals.
Optimization Approaches of Multi-Dimensional Environments in Rural Space Reproduction Driven by Tourism
Authors: Chen Yingxing , Zhang Qing , Zhao Difei , Folinas Sotiris , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2022

Rural tourism is an important driving force for the transformation of rural society in the process of urbanization. However, besides promoting rural economy, it also interrupts the development of the rural living, human, manage and economic multi-dimensional environments. Space reconstruction in rural settlements is an important means to optimize multi-dimensional environments and revitalize rural tourism. Focusing on two types of rural settlements, namely the “relocation village” and the “sightseeing and settlement symbiosis village”, this study has revealed the affecting mechanism of space reconstruction in rural tourist locations on the local multi-dimensional environment by establishing a multi-dimensional environment evaluation system through an analytic, hierarchical process. Subsequently, based on the theoretical perspective of the reproduction of the space and the paradigm of the three-fold model, a comprehensive optimization path of rural multi-dimensional environments has been proposed. The results show that in the space reconstruction process driven by tourism: (1) the multi-dimensional environments of the “sightseeing and settlement symbiosis village” generally develop better than the “relocation village”; (2) the ecological environment is the direct benefit while the management environment and economic environment are the bottlenecks; (3) the “sightseeing and settlement symbiosis village” is more appealing to tourists who are interested in rural tourism since it keeps more rustic characteristics than the “relocation village”; (4) in order to optimize the multi-dimensional environments, “relocation village” should pay more attention to the space needs of residents, improve space utilization rates, and increase the residents’ sense of belonging; (5) “sightseeing and settlement symbiosis village” needs to resolve the contradiction between the tourism and living demands, improve the reproduction process driven by diversified entities, and reconstruct the neighborhood network under rural tourism.
Numerical Simulation of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Turbulence in a Wind Tunnel Based on a Hybrid Method
Authors: Chen Zhaoqing , Wei Chao , Chen Zhuozhuo , Wang Shuang , Tang Lixiang
Published: December 2022

In the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation for building structures, it is important to generate a stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flow field that meets the standards. In this paper, the wind profile, turbulence intensity, and wind velocity power spectrum in the target region of a numerical wind tunnel were accurately simulated by a hybrid method. With the numerical simulation software FLUENT, the hybrid simulation method was implemented. In the hybrid simulation method, the wind field was simulated by setting the roughness element in the upstream of the model, adding random disturbance, and setting the circulation surface. The influences of simulation parameters (such as roughness element and random number parameters) and FLUENT solution methods on the flow field results were studied. The results show that the influence range of the roughness element on turbulence intensity is approximately 6 times its physical height. The turbulence intensity is positively correlated with the standard deviation of random numbers and negatively correlated with the assignment height. Finally, the wind fields for different terrains satisfying the standards were obtained in numerical wind tunnels. A simulation of the wind pressure on an inflatable membrane structure was illustrated. The comparison between numerical and experimental results shows a good accordance, which indicates a desirable potential in practical application.
Asymptotic Diffusion Analysis of Retrial Queueing System M/M/1 with Impatient Customers, Collisions and Unreliable Servers
Authors: Danilyuk Elena , Plekhanov Alexander , Moiseeva Svetlana , Sztrik Janos
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a retrial queueing system of the M/M/1 type with Poisson flows of arrivals, impatient customers, collisions, and an unreliable service device is considered. To make the problem more realistic and, hence, more complicated, we include the breakdowns and repairs of the service in this research study. The retrial times of customers in the orbit, service time, impatience time of customers in the orbit, server’s lifetime (depending on whether it is idle or busy), and server recovery time are supposed to be exponentially distributed. The problem of finding the stationary probability distribution of the number of customers in orbit is solved by using the method of asymptotic diffusion analyses under the condition of a heavy load of the system and the patience of customers in orbit. Numerical results are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical conclusions, and a comparative analysis of the method of asymptotic analysis and the method of asymptotic diffusion analysis for the considered problem is given.
Survival Analysis of Type-II Lehmann Fréchet Parameters via Progressive Type-II Censoring with Applications
Authors: Elshahhat Ahmed , Bhattacharya Ritwik , Mohammed Heba S.
Published: December 2022

A new three-parameter Type-II Lehmann Fréchet distribution (LFD-TII), as a reparameterized version of the Kumaraswamy–Fréchet distribution, is considered. In this study, using progressive Type-II censoring, different estimation methods of the LFD-TII parameters and its lifetime functions, namely, reliability and hazard functions, are considered. In a frequentist setup, both the likelihood and product of the spacing estimators of the considered parameters are obtained utilizing the Newton–Raphson method. From the normality property of the proposed classical estimators, based on Fisher’s information and the delta method, the asymptotic confidence interval for any unknown parametric function is obtained. In the Bayesian paradigm via likelihood and spacings functions, using independent gamma conjugate priors, the Bayes estimators of the unknown parameters are obtained against the squared-error and general-entropy loss functions. Since the proposed posterior distributions cannot be explicitly expressed, by combining two Markov-chain Monte-Carlo techniques, namely, the Gibbs and Metropolis–Hastings algorithms, the Bayes point/interval estimates are approximated. To examine the performance of the proposed estimation methodologies, extensive simulation experiments are conducted. In addition, based on several criteria, the optimum censoring plan is proposed. In real-life practice, to show the usefulness of the proposed estimators, two applications based on two different data sets taken from the engineering and physics fields are analyzed.
Score-Guided Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Lee Minhyeok , Seok Junhee
Published: December 2022

We propose a generative adversarial network (GAN) that introduces an evaluator module using pretrained networks. The proposed model, called a score-guided GAN (ScoreGAN), is trained using an evaluation metric for GANs, i.e., the Inception score, as a rough guide for the training of the generator. Using another pretrained network instead of the Inception network, ScoreGAN circumvents overfitting of the Inception network such that the generated samples do not correspond to adversarial examples of the Inception network. In addition, evaluation metrics are employed only in an auxiliary role to prevent overfitting. When evaluated using the CIFAR-10 dataset, ScoreGAN achieved an Inception score of 10.36 ± 0.15, which corresponds to state-of-the-art performance. To generalize the effectiveness of ScoreGAN, the model was evaluated further using another dataset, CIFAR-100. ScoreGAN outperformed other existing methods, achieving a Fréchet Inception distance (FID) of 13.98.
Feasibility of Behind-the-Meter Battery Storage in Wind Farms Operating on Small Islands
Authors: Dratsas Pantelis A. , Psarros Georgios N. , Papathanassiou Stavros A.
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the anticipated benefits from the introduction of a battery energy storage system (BESS) behind-the-meter (BtM) of a wind farm (WF) located in a small non-interconnected island (NII) system. Contrary to the standard storage deployment applications for NII, where storage is either installed in front of the meter as a system asset or integrated into a virtual power plant with renewable energy sources, the BESS of this paper is utilized to manage the power injection constraints imposed on the WF, aiming to minimize wind energy curtailments and improve WF’s yield. A mixed integer linear programming generation scheduling model is used to simulate the operation of the system and determine the permissible wind energy absorption margin. Then, a self-dispatch algorithm is employed for the operation of the WF–BESS facility, using the BESS to manage excess wind generation that cannot be directly delivered to the grid. Additionally, the contribution of BESS to the capacity adequacy of the NII system is investigated using a Monte Carlo-based probabilistic model, amended appropriately to incorporate storage. Finally, an economic feasibility analysis is carried out, considering the possible revenue streams. By examining several BESS configurations, it has been shown that BtM BESS reduces energy curtailments and contributes substantially to resource adequacy as its energy capacity increases. However, the investment feasibility is only ensured if the capacity value of the BtM storage is properly monetized or additional dependability of wind production is claimed on the ground that the inherent intermittency of the wind production is mitigated owing to storage.
Comparison of an Experimental Electrolyte Wetting of a Lithium-Ion Battery Anode and Separator by a Lattice Boltzmann Simulation
Authors: Wanner Johannes , Birke Kai Peter
Published: December 2022

The filling with electrolyte and the subsequent wetting of the electrodes is a quality-critical and time-intensive process in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. The exact processes involved in the wetting are still under investigation due to their poor accessibility. The accurate replication of the wetting phenomena in porous media can be demonstrated in other research fields by lattice Boltzmann simulations. Therefore, this paper deals with the comparison of experimental wetting and the simulative investigation of the wetting processes of lithium-ion battery materials by a lattice Boltzmann simulation. Particular attention is paid to the interfaces between the battery materials. These effects are relevant for a simulation of the wetting properties at the cell level. The experimental results show a 43% faster wetting of the interface between an anode and a separator than with only an anode. Overall, the simulation results show a qualitatively successful reproduction of the experimental wetting phenomena. In addition, the steps for a more precise simulation and the development of the Digital Twin are shown. This extension enables simulations of the electrolyte wetting phenomena in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries and the quantification of the wetting times.
A Sustainable Approach Based on the Use of Unripe Grape Frozen Musts to Modulate Wine Characteristics as a Proof of Concept
Authors: Pereira Catarina , Mendes Davide , Martins Nuno , Gomes da Silva Marco , Garcia Raquel , Cabrita Maria João
Published: December 2022

Aiming to develop a sustainable methodology for must acidity correction in winemaking, particularly needed in warm regions, the present study intends to fulfill the circular economy values. Antão Vaz white wines were produced using two different strategies for must acidity correction: (i) the addition of a mixture of organic acids (Mix*) commonly used in winemaking; and (ii) the addition of previously produced unripe grape must (UM*) from the same grape variety. In addition, a testimonial (T*) sample was produced with no acidity correction. For all wines produced, oenological parameters were determined, and both amino acid (AA) content and volatile composition were evaluated. A higher AA content was found in the Antão Vaz T* wine, followed by UM* wines. The volatile profile was also affected, and LDA demonstrates a clear separation of wines with different acidity corrections. Results obtained indicate that unripe grape musts—a vital waste product containing several compounds with important biological activity—can be used to increase musts acidity without a negative impact on wine characteristics. Furthermore, this work also shows that the use of unripe must may be a valuable tool for reducing the alcoholic content of wines.
Accurate Image Reconstruction in Dual-Energy CT with Limited-Angular-Range Data Using a Two-Step Method
Authors: Chen Buxin , Zhang Zheng , Xia Dan , Sidky Emil Y. , Gilat-Schmidt Taly , Pan Xiaochuan
Published: December 2022

Dual-energy CT (DECT) with scans over limited-angular ranges (LARs) may allow reductions in scan time and radiation dose and avoidance of possible collision between the moving parts of a scanner and the imaged object. The beam-hardening (BH) and LAR effects are two sources of image artifacts in DECT with LAR data. In this work, we investigate a two-step method to correct for both BH and LAR artifacts in order to yield accurate image reconstruction in DECT with LAR data. From low- and high-kVp LAR data in DECT, we first use a data-domain decomposition (DDD) algorithm to obtain LAR basis data with the non-linear BH effect corrected for. We then develop and tailor a directional-total-variation (DTV) algorithm to reconstruct from the LAR basis data obtained basis images with the LAR effect compensated for. Finally, using the basis images reconstructed, we create virtual monochromatic images (VMIs), and estimate physical quantities such as iodine concentrations and effective atomic numbers within the object imaged. We conduct numerical studies using two digital phantoms of different complexity levels and types of structures. LAR data of low- and high-kVp are generated from the phantoms over both single-arc (SA) and two-orthogonal-arc (TOA) LARs ranging from 14∘ to 180∘. Visual inspection and quantitative assessment of VMIs obtained reveal that the two-step method proposed can yield VMIs in which both BH and LAR artifacts are reduced, and estimation accuracy of physical quantities is improved. In addition, concerning SA and TOA scans with the same total LAR, the latter is shown to yield more accurate images and physical quantity estimations than the former. We investigate a two-step method that combines the DDD and DTV algorithms to correct for both BH and LAR artifacts in image reconstruction, yielding accurate VMIs and estimations of physical quantities, from low- and high-kVp LAR data in DECT. The results and knowledge acquired in the work on accurate image reconstruction in LAR DECT may give rise to further understanding and insights into the practical design of LAR scan configurations and reconstruction procedures for DECT applications.
Anti-Tumor Secondary Metabolites Originating from Fungi in the South China Sea’s Mangrove Ecosystem
Authors: Luo Yuyou , Luo Xiongming , Zhang Tong , Li Siyuan , Liu Shuping , Ma Yuxin , Wang Zongming , Jin Xiaobao , Liu Jing , Wang Xin
Published: December 2022

A mangrove is a unique ecosystem with abundant resources, in which fungi are an indispensable microbial part. Numerous mangrove fungi-derived secondary metabolites are considerable sources of novel bioactive substances, such as polyketides, terpenoids, alkaloids, peptides, etc., which arouse people’s interest in the search for potential natural anti-tumor drugs. This review includes a total of 44 research publications that described 110 secondary metabolites that were all shown to be anti-tumor from 39 mangrove fungal strains belonging to 18 genera that were acquired from the South China Sea between 2016 and 2022. To identify more potential medications for clinical tumor therapy, their sources, unique structures, and cytotoxicity qualities were compiled. This review could serve as a crucial resource for the research status of mangrove fungal-derived natural products deserving of further development.
Upgrading of Biobased Glycerol to Glycerol Carbonate as a Tool to Reduce the CO2 Emissions of the Biodiesel Fuel Life Cycle
Authors: Anderlini Biagio , Ughetti Alberto , Cristoni Emma , Forti Luca , Rigamonti Luca , Roncaglia Fabrizio
Published: December 2022

With regards to oil-based diesel fuel, the adoption of bio-derived diesel fuel was estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 75%, considering the whole life cycle. In this paper, we present a novel continuous-flow process able to transfer an equimolar amount of CO2 (through urea) to glycerol, producing glycerol carbonate. This represents a convenient tool, able to both improve the efficiency of the biodiesel production through the conversion of waste streams into added-value chemicals and to beneficially contribute to the whole carbon cycle. By means of a Design of Experiments approach, the influence of key operating variables on the product yield was studied and statistically modeled.
The Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Habibi Mohammad Amin , Alesaeidi Samira , Zahedi Mohadeseh , Hakimi Rahmani Samin , Piri Seyed Mohammad , Tavakolpour Soheil
Published: December 2022

Background and aim: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease developed by autoantibody production against human neutrophilic granulocytes, including proteinase-3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). The management of AAV patients is difficult due to the multiorgan involvement, high rate of relapse, and complications of immunosuppressive agents that make it challenging. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) therapy in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) subtypes. Method: The PubMed/Medline database was searched for any studies related to RTX therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitis (GPA and MPA subtypes), from inception to 1 August 2022, and proceeded in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: Our search resulted in 1082 initial records. After the elimination of review papers, irrelevant studies, and non-English records, 223 articles were included, and the data related to the efficacy and safety of RTX therapy were extracted. Several randomized and non-randomized studies showed that RTX is an effective treatment option for patients with AAV. Most of the studies showed the very effective effect of RTX in controlling disease in AAV patients, including pediatrics, adults, and elderlies, although RTX cannot completely prevent relapse. However, maintenance therapy helps delay the disease’s relapse and causes sustained remission. Not only the licensed dose (375 mg/m2 intravenous per week for 4 weeks) could induce disease remission, but studies also showed that a single infusion of RTX could be effective. Although RTX could resolve many rare manifestations in AAV patients, there are few reports showing treatment failure. Additionally, few sudies have reported the unexpeted worsening of the disease after RTX administration. Generally, RTX is relatively safe compared to conventional therapies, but some serious adverse effects, mainly infections, cytopenia, hypogammaglobinemia, malignancy, and hypersensitivity have been reported. Conclusions: RTX is an effective and relatively safe therapeutic option for AAV. Studies on the evaluation of the safety profiles of RTX and the prevention of severe RTX-related side effects in AAV patients are required.
A Unified Model of Age-Related Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Fossel Michael , Bean Joe , Khera Nina , Kolonin Mikhail G.
Published: December 2022

Despite progress in biomedical technologies, cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of mortality. This is at least in part because current clinical interventions do not adequately take into account aging as a driver and are hence aimed at suboptimal targets. To achieve progress, consideration needs to be given to the role of cell aging in disease pathogenesis. We propose a model unifying the fundamental processes underlying most age-associated cardiovascular pathologies. According to this model, cell aging, leading to cell senescence, is responsible for tissue changes leading to age-related cardiovascular disease. This process, occurring due to telomerase inactivation and telomere attrition, affects all components of the cardiovascular system, including cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, cardiac fibroblasts, and immune cells. The unified model offers insights into the relationship between upstream risk factors and downstream clinical outcomes and explains why interventions aimed at either of these components have limited success. Potential therapeutic approaches are considered based on this model. Because telomerase activity can prevent and reverse cell senescence, telomerase gene therapy is discussed as a promising intervention. Telomerase gene therapy and similar systems interventions based on the unified model are expected to be transformational in cardiovascular medicine.
Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Antidepressant Effects in a Marine Photosynthetic Organism: The Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum as a Case Study
Authors: Duarte Bernardo , Feijão Eduardo , Cruz de Carvalho Ricardo , Duarte Irina , Marques Ana , Maia Marisa , Hertzog Jasmine , Matos Ana , Cabrita Maria , Caçador Isabel , Figueiredo Andreia , Silva Marta , Cordeiro Carlos , Fonseca Vanessa
Published: December 2022

The increased use of antidepressants, along with their increased occurrence in aquatic environments, is of concern for marine organisms. Although these pharmaceutical compounds have been shown to negatively affect marine diatoms, their mode of action in these non-target, single-cell phototrophic organisms is yet unknown. Using a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR-MS) we evaluated the effects of fluoxetine in the metabolomics of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, as well as the potential use of the identified metabolites as exposure biomarkers. Diatom growth was severely impaired after fluoxetine exposure, particularly in the highest dose tested, along with a down-regulation of photosynthetic and carbohydrate metabolisms. Notably, several mechanisms that are normally down-regulated by fluoxetine in mammal organisms were also down-regulated in diatoms (e.g., glycerolipid metabolism, phosphatidylinositol signalling pathway, vitamin metabolism, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis and serotonin remobilization metabolism). Additionally, the present work also identified a set of potential biomarkers of fluoxetine exposure that were up-regulated with increasing fluoxetine exposure concentration and are of high metabolic significance following the disclosed mode of action, reinforcing the use of metabolomics approaches in ecotoxicology.
High Resilience and Fast Acclimation Processes Allow the Antarctic Moss Bryum argenteum to Increase Its Carbon Gain in Warmer Growing Conditions
Authors: Gemal Emma L. , Green T. G. Allan , Cary S. Craig , Colesie Claudia
Published: December 2022

Climate warming in Antarctica involves major shifts in plant distribution and productivity. This study aims to unravel the plasticity and acclimation potential of Bryum argenteum var. muticum, a cosmopolitan moss species found in Antarctica. By comparing short-term, closed-top chamber warming experiments which mimic heatwaves, with in situ seasonal physiological rates from Cape Hallett, Northern Victoria Land, we provide insights into the general inherent resilience of this important Antarctic moss and into its adaptability to longer-term threats and stressors associated with climate change. Our findings show that B. argenteum can thermally acclimate to mitigate the effects of increased temperature under both seasonal changes and short-term pulse warming events. Following pulse warming, this species dramatically increased its carbon uptake, measured as net photosynthesis, while reductions in carbon losses, measured as dark respiration, were not observed. Rapid growth of new shoots may have confounded the effects on respiration. These results demonstrate the high physiological plasticity of this species, with acclimation occurring within only 7 days. We show that this Antarctic moss species appears to have a high level of resilience and that fast acclimation processes allow it to potentially benefit from both short-term and long-term climatic changes.
Editorial for the Special Issue on “Multidisciplinary Insights on Bone Healing”
Authors: Anesi Alexandre , Cavani Francesco
Published: December 2022

Animal and human bone damage can be considered differently according to a macro- or micro-level analysis [...]
Ten Plastomes of Crassula (Crassulaceae) and Phylogenetic Implications
Authors: Ding Hengwu , Han Shiyun , Ye Yuanxin , Bi De , Zhang Sijia , Yi Ran , Gao Jinming , Yang Jianke , Wu Longhua , Kan Xianzhao
Published: December 2022

The genus Crassula is the second-largest genus in the family Crassulaceae, with about 200 species. As an acknowledged super-barcode, plastomes have been extensively utilized for plant evolutionary studies. Here, we first report 10 new plastomes of Crassula. We further focused on the structural characterizations, codon usage, aversion patterns, and evolutionary rates of plastomes. The IR junction patterns—IRb had 110 bp expansion to rps19—were conservative among Crassula species. Interestingly, we found the codon usage patterns of matK gene in Crassula species are unique among Crassulaceae species with elevated ENC values. Furthermore, subgenus Crassula species have specific GC-biases in the matK gene. In addition, the codon aversion motifs from matK, pafI, and rpl22 contained phylogenetic implications within Crassula. The evolutionary rates analyses indicated all plastid genes of Crassulaceae were under the purifying selection. Among plastid genes, ycf1 and ycf2 were the most rapidly evolving genes, whereas psaC was the most conserved gene. Additionally, our phylogenetic analyses strongly supported that Crassula is sister to all other Crassulaceae species. Our findings will be useful for further evolutionary studies within the Crassula and Crassulaceae.
Characterization of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Changes in the Skin after Chronic Fluocinolone Acetonide Treatment
Authors: Choi Yongsu , Takasugi Masaki , Takemura Kazuaki , Yoshida Yuya , Kamiya Tomonori , Adachi Jun , Tsuruta Daisuke , Ohtani Naoko
Published: December 2022

While topical corticosteroid (TCS) treatment is widely used for many skin diseases, it can trigger adverse side effects, and some of such effects can last for a long time after stopping the treatment. However, molecular changes induced by TCS treatment remain largely unexplored, although transient changes in histology and some major ECM components have been documented. Here, we investigated transcriptomic and proteomic changes induced by fluocinolone acetonide (FA) treatment in the mouse skin by conducting RNA-Seq and quantitative proteomics. Chronic FA treatment affected the expression of 4229 genes, where downregulated genes were involved in cell-cycle progression and ECM organization, and upregulated genes were involved in lipid metabolism. The effects of FA on transcriptome and histology of the skin largely returned to normal by two weeks after the treatment. Only a fraction of transcriptomic changes were reflected by proteomic changes, and the expression of 46 proteins was affected one day after chronic FA treatment. A comparable number of proteins were differentially expressed between control and FA-treated skin samples even at 15 and 30 days after stopping chronic FA treatment. Interestingly, proteins affected during and after chronic FA treatment were largely different. Our results provide fundamental information of molecular changes induced by FA treatment in the skin.
The Beneficial Changes on Inflammatory and Endothelial Biomarkers Induced by Metabolic Surgery Decreases the Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Men
Authors: Cobeta Pilar , Pariente Roberto , Osorio Alvaro , Marchan Marta , Blázquez Luis , Pestaña David , Galindo Julio , Botella-Carretero José I.
Published: December 2022

Obesity increases cardiovascular risk in men through several mechanisms. Among them, low-grade chronic inflammation and obesity-associated hypogonadism have been described. We aimed to study the effects of metabolic surgery on the carotid-intima media thickness through changes in inflammatory, endothelial biomarkers, and testosterone. We included 60 men; 20 submitted to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), 20 to sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and 20 to lifestyle modification (controls). Several inflammatory and endothelial biomarkers and total testosterone (TT) were measured at baseline and six months after surgery. Free testosterone (FT) was calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured by ultrasonography. Compared to controls, cIMT decreased after surgery concomitantly with CRP, PAI-1, sICAM-1, and IL-18 (p < 0.01) and with an increase in sTWEAK (p = 0.027), with no differences between RYGB and SG. The increase in TT and FT after surgery correlated with the changes in cIMT (p = 0.010 and p = 0.038, respectively), but this association disappeared after multivariate analysis. Linear regression showed that sTWEAK (ß = −0.245, p = 0.039), PAI-1 (ß = 0.346, p = 0.005), and CRP (ß = 0.236, p = 0.049) were associated with the changes in cIMT (R2 = 0.267, F = 6.664, p = 0.001). In conclusion, both RYGB and SG induced improvements in inflammation and endothelial biomarkers that drove a decrease in cIMT compared to men with obesity who submitted to diet and exercise.
Secondary Terpenes in Cannabis sativa L.: Synthesis and Synergy
Authors: Chacon Francisco T. , Raup-Konsavage Wesley M. , Vrana Kent E. , Kellogg Joshua J.
Published: December 2022

Cannabis is a complex biosynthetic plant, with a long history of medicinal use. While cannabinoids have received the majority of the attention for their psychoactive and pharmacological activities, cannabis produces a diverse array of phytochemicals, such as terpenes. These compounds are known to play a role in the aroma and flavor of cannabis but are potent biologically active molecules that exert effects on infectious as well as chronic diseases. Furthermore, terpenes have the potential to play important roles, such as synergistic and/or entourage compounds that modulate the activity of the cannabinoids. This review highlights the diversity and bioactivities of terpenes in cannabis, especially minor or secondary terpenes that are less concentrated in cannabis on a by-mass basis. We also explore the question of the entourage effect in cannabis, which studies to date have supported or refuted the concept of synergy in cannabis, and where synergy experimentation is headed, to better understand the interplay between phytochemicals within Cannabis sativa L.
Cardiac Mesenchymal Stem Cell-like Cells Derived from a Young Patient with Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease Have a Prematurely Aged Phenotype
Authors: Oldershaw Rachel A. , Richardson Gavin , Carling Phillippa , Owens W. Andrew , Lundy David J. , Meeson Annette
Published: December 2022

There is significant interest in the role of stem cells in cardiac regeneration, and yet little is known about how cardiac disease progression affects native cardiac stem cells in the human heart. In this brief report, cardiac mesenchymal stem cell-like cells (CMSCLC) from the right atria of a 21-year-old female patient with a bicuspid aortic valve and aortic stenosis (referred to as biscuspid aortic valve disease BAVD-CMSCLC), were compared with those of a 78-year-old female patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (referred to as coronary artery disease CAD-CMSCLC). Cells were analyzed for expression of MSC markers, ability to form CFU-Fs, metabolic activity, cell cycle kinetics, expression of NANOG and p16, and telomere length. The cardiac-derived cells expressed MSC markers and were able to form CFU-Fs, with higher rate of formation in CAD-CMSCLCs. BAVD-CMSCLCs did not display normal MSC morphology, had a much lower cell doubling rate, and were less metabolically active than CAD-CMSCLCs. Cell cycle analysis revealed a population of BAVD-CMSCLC in G2/M phase, whereas the bulk of CAD-CMSCLC were in the G0/G1 phase. BAVD-CMSCLC had lower expression of NANOG and shorter telomere lengths, but higher expression of p16 compared with the CAD-CMSCLC. In conclusion, BAVD-CMSCLC have a prematurely aged phenotype compared with CAD-CMSCLC, despite originating from a younger patient.